IT’S ALWAYS AMAZING the number of issues in Barbados where many persons would say that this or that needs to be done to address any problems. Ultimately, coming out of the discussion, little or nothing seems to be done to implement the remedies.
Perhaps one of the reasons for the implementation deficit (there are several others, of course) is an inability or reluctance by whomever to acknowledge publicly the factors that led to the recent state of affairs, perhaps for fear that it would reflect on previous decision-making and makers, who knows?
The recent Nation editorial on the revitalisation of Bridgetown comes up short in that it did not speak in a significant way to factors that may have contributed to the current decline of the capital city.
It has been long acknowledged that Bridgetown as an urban, commercial space has dwindled in importance, with several concurrent impacts. These included closed businesses, a sense of abandonment after work hours, increasing numbers of derelict buildings and a generally unattractive ambience. But how did it reach this stage? Arguably, Bridgetown was a far more vibrant town as recently as about 20 years ago when at least at weekends a vibrant nightlife would ensure the retention of people in the area.
However, in the intervening years, other commercial areas such as Warrens, Sheraton Mall, Six Roads and more recently Welches and Limegrove came to prominence. In addition, the proliferation of motor vehicles meant that Barbadians no longer needed to organically be in Bridgetown as patrons of the various places, as they can now easily access the new commercial districts. Government too, has been part of the flight from Bridgetown, relocating several of its key public services and offices to other areas, Warrens in particular.
John Wickham as far back as 1978 spoke to the often expressed distaste many Barbadians had for Bridgetown. He indicated statements like: “I don’t know the last time I was in Bridgetown” would be often be made (Bajan Magazine, July 1978). Ironically, though Bridgetown has been upgraded in many ways since that time, those attitudes still inform how Bridgetown is seen and interacted with, and one suspects that is the case with the powers that be as well, which may explain why there may be no significant serious efforts to ensure The City’s vibrancy even as the other areas proliferated.
Former Member of Parliament for the area, Dame Billie Miller, who led the fight for urban renewal in her time in office, said even back then that Bridgetown should be an area where people wanted to live and was of the (correct) view that “when people move away or cease to live in them, cities die”. This is is what is happening to The City. So it would seem that the solution lies in bringing people “back to town”, so to speak.
However, persons would only be inclined to do so if the space is attractive and the amenities provided are of a certain quality. The Sugar Point Cruise Terminal and Pierhead Redevelopment Project, both undertakings that appear to be dead in the water, would have been most helpful in bringing bodies to the urban area.
Therefore, the discussion has to be how to reverse a trend that started fairly recently, and seems to be ongoing in full force and that has had and continues to have a detrimental impact on The City. However, if we are still of the view that Bridgetown should continue to be the capital and as a World Heritage Site it has to be a modern attractive space whilst maintaining its more traditional charm, then a serious discussion about what should be taking place in that space, and what efforts and strategies can be undertaken to encourage both private sector and Government to return to the area and to draw citizens back there as well, must be done.
It should not be hard if we seriously buy in to the importance of the site and why, as we approach the 400th anniversary of its existence in the next decade, it should be a shining example of the modern sophisticated society that is Barbados. Urban renewal is an ongoing process but there has to be a determined effort to achieve a clearly stated and well thought out goal. It has to be seen as important for whatever reason even if it’s just a question of national pride.
On a slightly different but related note, it would be absolutely wonderful if some substantial part of the $7 million allocated for the “celebration” of Barbados’ Independence jubilee is used to spruce up Bridgetown. Perhaps starting with attractive signage, there can then be upgrades of select streets, including the sidewalks, a City-wide clean-up, dismantling of any derelict structures including, and especially, the skeleton of what used to be the Fairchild Street Market.
And proper attractive kiosks for vendors in specific areas of Bridgetown to bring some order to the chaotic situation that now exists. Some extensive painting of several areas should also be used. This would make sense especially since several of the activities that are actually planned will probably be in and around The City.
– RANDY BATSON
