THE CHILDHOOD HOME of the Father of Independence could be returned to its former glory.
The current dilapidated state of Errol Barrow’s family home located at The Garden, St Lucy, drew the ire of a number of residents who attended a St Lucy Democratic Labour Party branch meeting in Pie Corner last Sunday.
As they complained about the condition of the structure, the residents expressed displeasure that the area continued to remain in ruin especially during Barbados’ 50th year of Independence.
But St Lucy MP and Minister of Housing and Lands Denis Kellman said plans were in place for the area, not just in terms of land acquisition but also redevelopment for the historic house.
Land being acquired
And while the he did not provide a figure for the costs associated with the restoration project, Kellman explained that some of the money generated from the film as well as contributions from the Ministry of Culture and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust would be used to help facilitate the long-mooted project.
Contribution
“I can also tell you that I recently had a meeting with the Maria Holder Trust and they agreed that they will also contribute to the restoration of that house,” he said, adding that he was eager to have this restoration done before Independence Day.
He said the project at The Garden would’ve been much further were it not for some land acquisition difficulties under the last administration.
“I had to come and solve that problem. Now [the landowner] is prepared to negotiate and deal with the issue. They did not want him to get a piece of his own land, which I disagreed with because the land is big enough, but that has been solved now,” the minister added. (AD)
