Bridgetown Market relocation worries vendors

The decision to move Bridgetown Market, a key attraction of the annual Crop Over Festival, from its traditional venue on Spring Garden Highway to its original Broad Street location has prompted a wave of unease among vendors, many of whom rely heavily on the festival for their yearly income.  

“It’s good that we try to encourage people to work with change,” said Robert Maloney, Roving Communications Officer with the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors, and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN). “But when we look at change, we’re looking at constructive change. The festival was created by the vendors and for the vendors. Its main purpose and goal is for them to be able to make an income and to provide for themselves and their families.”

Although incorporating Bridgetown could have been positive, he said, vendors had hoped the Mighty Grynner Highway would still be included as it provides a significant portion of their annual earnings.

Broad Street’s capacity and suitability are major concerns compared to the highway. 

“Bridgetown cannot accommodate as many vendors as the highway,” Maloney explained. “We might be able to accommodate around 40 vendors, but traditionally, hundreds come out to trade. The festival on the highway allows for tents, patrons, and a vibrant atmosphere, which is hard to replicate in Bridgetown.”

The BARVEN spokesman stressed the importance of proper consultation, saying major changes should be discussed in town meetings to understand impacts on businesses. He said vendors felt their input was not adequately considered, leading to disappointment and a sense of exclusion.

Highlighting logistical advantages of the highway, such as more space for activities, Maloney said: “The vendors were hoping for an extension of the festival, not a relocation. They wanted to maintain the traditional aspects while possibly adding new features in Bridgetown.”  

The vending community has also voiced a need for infrastructural improvements, especially ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup. Maloney said simple upgrades like more garbage receptacles could significantly improve areas like Swan Street.

Regarding the state of the Temple Yard artisan’s market, he acknowledged ongoing but slow progress, with the dismantling of some structures leaving vendors without amenities like cook shops, affecting daily operations.

On the island’s readiness for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting Sunday, the BARVEN official had mixed feelings, saying while renovations are happening, more could have been done with more time. 

“Starting preparations earlier would have allowed for better upgrades and a more inviting environment for visitors,” he commented. “We see ourselves not as a separate community but as a collective. If all of us do not benefit from these changes, some will, but ultimately, everyone will gain in some way, just some more than others.” (RG)