Renowned historian takes officials to task for poor state of Parliament’s West Wing and museum theft
By Anesta Henry
Respected architectural historian Professor Emeritus Sir Henry Fraser has described the theft of priceless artefacts from the abandoned West Wing of Parliament, where the museum and National Heroes Gallery are located, as a disgrace.
So too, he said, is the current state of the West Wing of Parliament which was condemned due to environmental issues in 2020.
Professor Fraser told Barbados TODAY he had received countless calls from Barbadians voicing concerns about the condition of the condemned building which is a part of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“To my mind and to the mind of many people who have called me in shock, the maintenance of the West Wing of Parliament should be a priority, full stop. It is a shock. The theft is also a disgrace because it means that security has been very lapsed,” he said.
The Barbados Police Service is probing the theft of more than 20 priceless artefacts, including clothing belonging to late Prime Ministers Sir Errol Barrow and Tom Adams as well as Premier Sir Grantley Adams, as well as Barrow’s musket gun and shoes.
It was reported that the artefacts were discovered stolen last month by a tour guide who went to the Parliament Museum to retrieve an item.
Police are carrying out investigations to determine exactly when the theft occurred and find the culprit.
Accusing governments of locking up buildings, allowing them to deteriorate and eventually finding excuses that it would cost too many millions of dollars to restore them, Professor Fraser issued the reminder that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
“And that is our problem. We don’t know how to maintain our buildings, so they are all becoming sick buildings,” he said.
The historian added that he was concerned the island’s art and architectural platforms were being ignored and that it appeared as though Barbadians only seemed to be interested in “Crop Over and calypso” where culture is concerned.
He argued that theatre and drama have died, and some elements of music are struggling.
“But my own personal interest is that art and architecture have been virtually abandoned. Our UNESCO World Heritage Site is deteriorating. I am generally concerned that we are not paying the attention that we should to the important lasting aspects of our cultural heritage, especially our art and architecture.
“These things have huge economic value because heritage tourism is the fastest growing aspect of tourism in the world, and art is a huge attraction. We have talented artists who are working as hotel receptionists and secretaries because we do not promote our art,” Professor Fraser lamented.
He added: “There are more than 500 practising talented artists in Barbados, and they all have a vote, and we still don’t have a national art gallery, which is a real shame and an embarrassment. Antigua and Puerto Rico take advantage of their cultural heritage; we don’t.”
Several creatives earlier this year called for a national art gallery so that the works of Barbadian artists can be displayed instead of left in storage.
Local artist Heather Dawn Scott has staged several protests to push for action.
While the government said the Block ‘A’ building at the Garrison was earmarked for the gallery and the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development handed over the keys to the then Minister with responsibility for Culture John King in July 2020, nothing has yet materialised.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
