BARBADOS ONCE HAD Pelican Island and St Philip is home to Culpepper Island.
Now, a prominent businessman and university economics lecturer are proposing the construction of three new islands to herald a new era of economic growth and development in Barbados.
Chairman of Williams Industries Inc., Ralph “Bizzy” Williams, says a group of business people including his brother Sir Charles Williams are proposing the establishment of two islands off “the last 80 acres of land in the north that is owned by the people of Barbados” as part of a major tourism development.
Speaking at a Cave Hill School of Business Big Ideas Forum, Williams said the project was at the conceptual stage but as proposed it would see the construction of a “high end hotel” and villas, with the islands used for recreation.
Also speaking at the forum was University of the West Indies economics lecturer Dr Troy Lorde, who tabled his own island proposal. He said in order to cash in on the lucrative and growing cargo trans-shipment business like Jamaica, The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Cuba, Barbados should build a new Pelican Island off the Bridgetown port.
Lorde said while there would be environmental and other challenges to overcome, Barbados would benefit significantly from such a venture. (SC)