Businesses yet to take advantage of historic designation

Former President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Eddy Abed is saddened that members of the business community in The City are yet to capitalize on Barbados’ World Heritage Site status.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, at the Walled Garden of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society at the Garrison, Abed said it is not that business owners are not enthusiastic about the inscription or are not trying to benefit from it, but most are still in the process of trying to figure out how to find what he has referred to as the “sweet spot”.

Abed said that some members of the chamber believe that the inscription official logo should be marketed on local products to become as popular as other major international brands.

He said: “It needs to be seen. It needs to be recognized that this is important and that we need to be proud of this. The chamber will continue to sensitize its members to try to show them that there are opportunities that we could use the logo to build on it. Hopefully, we can get micro-businesses and so on, to jump on that train and move in the same direction. They can turn this into a means of getting a revenue stream.”

The businessman also announced that the BCCI will soon be opening an interpretive centre in The City where stakeholders will be able to view plans proposed by respective organisations for Bridgetown’s development as a historic site over the short and medium term.

“Not only that we can all become aware of what is planned for The City, but we can see a sense of the holistic model of the historic city, but equally, that we can give those investors and those entrepreneurs the opportunity to come on board and share in this experience. Frankly, it’s a beautiful city, it’s our capital and we should all be that much more aware of it and proud of it,” Abed said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture John King said over the past 10 years, the Barbados World Heritage Committee and the Ministry of Culture have sought to highlight the many benefits of the inscription through sensitizing Barbadians and visitors to the significance of the island’s tangible and intangible assets.

King said the committee has used a mixture of conventional and unconventional approaches, including lectures, free tours which attracted hundreds from all walks of life, outdoor exhibitions, fusing creative arts with heritage and career showcases, to educate citizens about the importance of the site to the country’s development and national consciousness.

The minister indicated that as a result of the programmes and activities, there has been a phenomenal growth in the public’s interest in the heritage site, with churches and community groups even hosting their own heritage tours.

King said: “In keeping with the focus to engage the youth with the help of the Ministry of Education and the University of the West Indies, we started the Heritage in Schools Programme to sensitize primary and secondary school teachers on the benefits of heritage and the inscription. This led the way for the History Department of the university to commence drafting the history syllabus for primary and secondary schools.

“Through the Barbados Museum, the training of young curators and the hosting of heritage camps, opened new minds to heritage. Another knock-off effect of the inscription was that it provided the impetus for the development of products and services and the emergence of a number of micro and small businesses.”

The minister also indicated that in the last 10 years, a number of important and critical infrastructure development works were undertaken by government agencies, including the Town and Country Planning Development office documenting historical buildings, which King said is a critical step for future restoration projects.

During the event, a number of businesses and organisations committed to promoting the world heritage site were presented with the logo. (AH)