MP Trevor Prescod proposes to develop commercial activity in the Ivy

Pan Africanist and Member of Parliament for St Michael East Trevor Prescod is seeking to work with constituents to transform the Ivy into a commercial space.

Speaking at the launch of Kwanzaa 2021 on Sunday at the Ivy, St Michael, Prescod told his constituents that as Barbados begins its journey as a republic state, conversations regarding building a strong entrepreneurship programme to improve the lives of residents should be taking place at this time.

“Think about things, work with me and tell me what is the other type of business you feel we can have concentrated in this pocket to attract more and more people to the community. That is what I want conversations to be about sometimes. How can we do things? Tell me what else you think we can do. Tell me and we will move on from there,” he said.

In fact, Prescod said the four commercial units recently opened at the Blenheim pasture was a part of a conscious effort by himself and social activist David Denny, to make an attempt to commercialize that particular area in the Ivy, and to help ordinary men and women to rise from being one door business persons to forming a cooperative and build larger establishments.

“You have to have a vision like that. This effort this evening is also to bring cultural [activity] and bring education and knowledge to the community so that we can build up that sense of community spirit and knowledge that someday in the near future that we can look and see this whole street become so commercialized that just like Baxter’s Road and Oistins on Friday nights that we can have people coming into this community.

Members of the Israel Lovell Foundation performing at the event.

“We will provide entertainment. A collective body of us can get together and form a unit and plan so we can help these people develop and grow and become as big as any person in Barbados. I have the responsibility of trying hard to move some of the obstacles of capitalism out of the way. As a Parliamentary Representative I look for those areas,” he said.

The Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, Haynesville Youth Club, Cuban Barbadian Friendship Association, Friends of Venezuela Solidarity Committee (Barbados) and the Israel Lovell Foundation organized yesterday’s launch of the Kwanzaa which celebrates African family, heritage and values from December 26-January 1.

Members of the Israel Lovell Foundation performing at the event.

Prescod noted that while many are not familiar with Kwanzaa, he was pleased to see the number of people that attended the event.

“Some people are comparing it to Christmas. But this is no Christmas. Who wants to support Christmas, support Christmas. Some would support Kwanzaa and Christmas too and some of us will support only Kwanzaa. So, I want you to understand the significance of this occasion. It is not as big as we would like it to be but somebody had to start.

“And since many people don’t know much about it, I am extremely pleased with the attendance that we have had this evening. We started out with the Israel Lovell Foundation, but even if I have to do something similar to it in the new year we will come back to the community and I will put in more entertainment,” Prescod said.

Over the next seven days of Kwanzaa, celebrants will observe the principles of unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. (anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)