It is a heart-breaking reflection on our country as we watch our beloved capital city suffer on a long, sustained, painful road to death right before our eyes.
This city, which has such a rich history, littered with iconic buildings, landmarks, and scenes of immense cultural value, just appears to be withering away.
The numerous attempts at reviving Bridgetown by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry and likeminded partners, seem to have garnered little to no success because the exodus of businesses has only intensified. The devastating shock of the COVID-19 pandemic that has rocked the stability of enterprises, both large and small, has made the situation much worse.
Even the famed Broad Street is losing its pull to those who regard a visit to Bridgetown as an empty trip unless one has made a stop in the main thoroughfare. We hate to digress, but the value of rebranding away from the century-old Cave Shepherd Store, to what appeared to be a trendy, new name, is yet to warm shoppers in the way the brand masters may have intended.
But this problem of a dying Bridgetown is not a new development. The capital has been on a steady attrition for almost three decades. Some have linked that decline to the rise in shopping malls and centres that have sprung up in Christ Church and other areas of St Michael.
The decentralisation of Government’s activity and the relocation of several offices from Bridgetown have also been major contributors to the decline of The City. If the Government has not found our capital an appealing place to locate many of its own operations, then who else will be prepared to make that kind of investment in infrastructure and possible financial risk.
Instead of leading the fight back, it seems various administrations have played follow the leader, preferring to place new investments, mainly through our National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in structures elsewhere.
What we are witnessing is old Bridgetown facing nothing short of abandonment, in preference for the new flavour in Warrens and nearby Welches, and to a lesser extent in Holetown, on the West Coast.
A 2015 report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) identified the uphill battle that confronted our capital. The multilateral institution said Barbados was not alone in its fight to maintain interest in its capital.
“In most cases city centres are bustling with activity during the day but become ghost towns during the night. This phenomenon is especially common in emerging cities where the inadequate use of tangible and intangible urban assets contrasts with a rapid urban expansion towards suburbia.
“In Bridgetown, a city that concentrates many of Barbados’ historic and cultural treasures, infrastructure and regulations are lagging, preventing it from becoming a vibrant destination in the Caribbean,” the IDB noted.
The institution stressed that central Bridgetown was in dire need of infrastructure such as bike lanes and signage. It said vendors were taking up too much space on narrow streets and sidewalks, making it difficult for locals and tourists to traverse some areas.
The bank also highlighted something that we all knew. The country has not taken full advantage of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration of Bridgetown, despite all the efforts we expended to achieve the status.
The process of benefiting from the UNESCO declaration is not spontaneous. “It requires a multi-sectoral response that must be in line with the city’s cultural and historic fabric and distinctive Caribbean character,” the IDB advised.
Some may regard it as hyperbole, but it could be regarded as a reflection of how we treat our seniors. As things and people around us age, we relegate their importance and assign them to the rubbish heap, not valuing their experience and contribution to our present achievements.
It reflects the “mashup and buy back” mentality; our fast food, must-have-it-now approach to life.
But not everyone has given up on Bridgetown.
Attempts by Sir Trevor Carmichael and his consortium to achieve some kind of renaissance with the restoration of Roebuck Street. That section of Bridgetown holds significant historic value because of its connections to the rise of the black business class in this country.
According to the group’s website, their aim is to identify funding options and sources of funds to spearhead the restoration, redevelopment, rejuvenation and beautification of Roebuck Street and its immediate environs, concentrating on the area from Palmetto Street to Roebuck Street.
They are seeking to raise $2 million for the project and we wish them success in achieving their goal before the businesses that are left, decide to hitch their wagons in Warrens or Sheraton and leave Bridgetown for good.
