Despite an assurance from vice chancellor designate of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill principal Sir Hilary Beckles, that the historic chapel at the Lazaretto would not be demolished, there is nothing of the building but rubble.
Last October, Heather-Lynn’s Habitat broke the story that the chapel, built in 1866, was slated for destruction.
However, Sir Hilary, in a statement, denied that the historic coral stone, neo-Gothic chapel would be demolished.
That statement said: “A historic but derelict chapel which has remained abandoned and unoccupied for almost half a century at the Lazaretto, St Michael, will not be demolished and discarded by the University of the West Indies. Instead it will be incorporated into a new structure to house a UWI Centre for African and Brazilian Studies which is earmarked for the same site.”
The statement also said the “footprint of the original chapel will be demarcated and emblazoned into the new one, among other tangible steps being taken to maintain the cultural and historical significance of the building”.
The pending destruction had provoked the ire not only of officials at the Barbados National Trust, but Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley as well.
Sir Hilary’s statement had said the university had consulted with the Ministry of Culture, the Chief Town Planner, Senator Sir Henry Fraser (chairman of the Barbados National Trust’s sentinel committee) and the Anglican Church.
