Last week I expressed dismay at the lack of parking at such an important institution as the Central Bank and by extension the Frank Collymore Hall. Those sentiments were shared by a reader who questioned the need for another park (Church Village Green) just a few steps away from the underused Queen’s Park and noted that the area could have accommodated at least 150 vehicles. He noted that while The Green is attractively designed, it has already started to receive its fair share of Bridgetown’s litter. That, of course, was inevitable, judging from the careless way in which we treat our garbage, and there seems to be no effort to curb the awful practice.
While I realise The Green was intended to attract many to “sit, relax and enjoy the serene surroundings”, I suspect that most would be hesitant to use it as a place of relaxation, for fear of harassment by vagrants and even perhaps attacks by lawless individuals. I suppose that’s why Queen’s Park, too, is underused, since personal safety is becoming more and more of an issue. When the Church Village development plans were made public, I actually called to enquire whether parking was being considered, but received no definitive answer.
The hall seats 500 people. Its website boasts that it’s Barbados’ premier performing arts centre and that “from January to December, there’s always something for everyone. Dance; drama; art; music; lectures; exhibitions; conferences; open air concerts; cocktail receptions; weddings and more in the Hall, the Grande Salle, the FCH Meeting Room, the Inner Courtyard and the Cathedral Courtyard”. But can it really reap maximum benefits without adequate parking and a more imaginative, business-like approach?
Since its opening 28 years ago, the running of the bar has not improved one iota. How can you not learn after so many years? It’s still disorganised, with patrons competing for service and being dissatisfied every time. During the NIFCA Junior Finals, it was also painful to see what a golden opportunity for refreshment sales was lost. There was one small table with a few food warmers, and the food items disappeared in about five minutes. We went to this table immediately after exiting the hall at intermission to find ten pastry items remaining, all of which we purchased for our party, so hundreds went without being able to purchase anything. Is that what you would expect to see with all this talk about entrepreneurship, especially during these difficult times?
But, of course, this disorganisation is also the case at most event venues where many patrons don’t even try to buy anything at intermission since by the time you reach the top of the queue, intermission is over. Where is the foresight? Where is the planning?
Now to Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and his tax certificates. Of course, there was the inevitable public outcry after his announcement. It was first said that tax certificates would be optional which, as far as I’m aware, means “left to one’s choice, not required or mandatory”.
Then it seemed that some would receive refunds as long as finances allowed, and the remainder would receive tax certificates. Many quite rightly asked how it would be decided who would receive refunds and who would receive certificates. Were refunds for friends and family, would they be made in alphabetical order and when the funds ran out, then tax certificates would be given, or would names be put in box and pulled like a raffle? We also want to know whether these certificates can be used to offset solid waste tax, land tax or any other tax, or if they’re just useless pieces of paper.
It seems as if some people use their income tax refunds as a means of compulsory saving. I hope they’ve learned their lesson and in future will give a full list of their deductions to their employers (assuming that deductions exist after the upcoming Budget) so that the minimum PAYE will be deducted each month and at the end of the year the account will either be perfectly balanced or they will owe Government. Don’t let Government owe you!
We’ve really hit rock bottom this time. I agree with Shantal Munro-Knight’s plea in her Sunday Sun column: “May the Lord help us all.” We certainly can’t rely on Government to do it.
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator.