Historian knocks plans to raze centuries-old civic centre, police station

Renowned architectural historian Professor Sir Henry Fraser has strongly condemned plans to demolish the historic Holetown Civic Centre and Police Station to make way for a high-rise hotel, calling the proposal “poorly thought out” and an affront to Barbados’ heritage preservation efforts.

His scathing critique comes amid growing opposition to the government’s plans, with the Barbados National Trust joining the chorus of dissent. The proposed demolition of the centuries-old site, in the shadow of a monument to the island’s European settlement and governance, has sparked intense backlash from conservationists who argue that such a move would erase a critical piece of Barbados’ history.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY, Professor Fraser, a longtime champion of heritage conservation, voiced unwavering support for the National Trust’s president, Geoffrey Ramsey: “I agree with him 150 per cent.

“This is not a well-thought-out proposal.”

He lamented what he described as a contradiction in the country’s approach to heritage preservation—embracing cultural elements like music and cuisine while allowing significant historic structures to deteriorate.

“Everybody is talking about our food and our food and our dancing but meanwhile our buildings are all falling down,” he said.

“We have a historic Bridgetown and its garrison as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and half of it is derelict. Half of it… The buildings of Bridgetown are derelict.”

Professor Fraser further noted the implications of relocating the police station, particularly for the average citizen, echoing the Trust’s concerns that dismantling the civic complex would disproportionately affect those who rely on public transport.

“The whole complex there is so convenient to people getting off the bus, as Mr Ramsey said. Instead, they’ll have to walk hundreds of yards up a gentle hill to a new site, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars building a new one,” he said, suggesting that the costs of relocation far outweigh any purported benefits.

The UWI emeritus professor dismissed the idea that a new complex could be built at a reasonable cost.

“There is no way that complex can be replaced in the way our police stations have been replaced at Hastings for $14 million– that is a joke,” he said.

The architectural historian further noted what he described as a troubling pattern of neglect for historic buildings across Barbados.

He criticised the authorities for failing to protect structures of national importance while allowing developers to pursue projects that, in his view, prioritise profit over cultural preservation.

“To demolish Holetown, the site of the first town in Barbados, to demolish that ancient police station—approximately 300 years old, if not more in terms of its origins—doesn’t make sense to the man in the street, far less anyone else,” he said

While expressing his support for development, Professor Fraser insisted that it should not come at the expense of the island’s heritage, further questioning the logic of replacing an essential civic facility with a hotel, particularly without addressing underlying issues such as flooding in the area.

“This situation is not one that has been well thought out. It has not had engineering input. It has not had social input. It has not had the input of people who are concerned about the convenience of the poorer citizen who doesn’t drive a BMW,” he said.

“I agree with [the Trust] 150 per cent.”

In a recent release, the Barbados National Trust called on the government and developers to reconsider the demolition plans and explore alternatives that balance development with historical preservation.

Advocates argue that adaptive reuse of heritage sites could stimulate economic opportunities while safeguarding Barbados’ unique cultural identity.

The release further urged authorities to honour their commitment to preserving the nation’s rich history, stating: “We are called by our national anthem to be ‘guardians of our heritage’.

“We must also seek to bring our heritage to life for the benefit of our youth and generations to come.” (SM)