Call to address urgent need for restoration

Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne has criticised the government’s approach to urban renewal, arguing that the focus on new housing developments is misguided and neglects what he said is a pressing need for revitalisation within historic urban communities.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday during debate on the Rural and Urban Development Commission Bill, 2025, Thorne reiterated his stance that the government’s housing strategy has destroyed agricultural lands, adding that it has also ignored the “deteriorating” housing stock in St Michael and other urban areas.

He contended that the proposed commission, which will merge the Urban Development Commission (UDC) and the Rural Development Commission (RDC), must do more than simply oversee new developments—it must address the urgent need for restoration in traditional communities.

“There is substantial and significant degeneration within St Michael, within those conurbations,” he said.

“There is major degeneration of the housing stock within these neighborhoods. And I want to say to the government, and I want to say to the people of Barbados, that this so-called new housing trust is misconceived for two reasons.”

“Number one, it is destroying agricultural lands. I make no apology for saying that. It continues to destroy agricultural lands. And the other reason that it is misconceived is that it ignores and neglects genuine urban renewal within areas of St Michael.”

Thorne pointed to Bayland in St Michael as an example of how urban communities have evolved but also fallen into disrepair.

He explained that while some homes in these neighbourhoods had been upgraded from wooden chattel houses to concrete structures, others had been left to decay, leading to uneven development.

“When you drive through the Bayland, you see next door to a two-story home a small wooden chattel house that is falling into disrepair. That is what urban working-class Barbados has become—an area of uneven development. And yet, this government continues to divert its attention away from real urban renewal and instead builds on agricultural land,” he argued.

Minister of Housing and Lands Dwight Sutherland.

The retention of heritage and traditional Barbadian architecture, Thorne stressed, should be central to any renewal efforts.

He lamented what he said was the disappearance of skilled carpentry that once defined the construction of chattel houses, arguing that the government should invest in training young artisans to revive the craft.

“Those old carpenters were not just artisans—they were scientists in their own right. They built houses that were durable, well-designed, and uniquely Barbadian. Yet today, our villages are being replaced by ‘hostile architecture’ that strips away the character of our communities.”

Minister of Housing, Lands, and Maintenance Dwight Sutherland dismissed Thorne’s criticisms, insisting that the government has been actively engaged in urban renewal projects while also addressing the demand for housing.

“The notion that we are not doing anything within the urban corridor is simply not true,” Sutherland said in response.

He pointed to several government-led initiatives, including the Bridgetown Bus Terminal Marketplace, the Brandon’s Beachfront Redevelopment, and flood mitigation efforts along Constitutiona River, as examples of urban renewal projects that extend beyond housing.

Sutherland also listed housing developments within the urban corridor, such as the 36 units recently built on White Park Road and the acquisition of land in Wellington Street for future housing projects.

“Urban renewal is not just about housing, and the government has been working to transform the urban environment in meaningful ways,” he said.

Sutherland also rejected Thorne’s claims that the government has failed to preserve Barbadian architectural heritage, noting that the Ministry of Housing had already collaborated with architects to design new homes that reflect the Barbadian vernacular.

“We had a competition with architects in this country to come up with housing designs that respect the Barbadian architectural style. The honourable member is not bringing any new ideas to this chamber—he is simply repeating what was already initiated under this administration,” Sutherland said. (SM)