Govt proceeding with Holetown redevelopment amid public concerns

In the face of mounting public opposition, the government on Friday said it was pushing ahead with its plan to redevelop the Holetown Civic Centre for tourism, awarding a $176 million (US$88 million) contract to the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) to build a 100-room hotel.

Despite concerns over the loss of a historic community space and insufficient public consultation, Senior Minister, Infrastructure and Planning in the Office of the Prime Minister Dr William Duguid, in a ministerial statement, dismissed claims that the government has been secretive about the project, saying consultations and public notices have been in place since 2021.

“There has been no attempt to hide anything,” Duguid told Parliament. “We have been speaking about this at public meetings, publishing notices, and discussing it in Parliament. The facts are on the record.”

The civic centre, which houses the police station, magistrates’ court, post office, library, and government offices around the 1905 monument to the island’s colonial settlement, will be relocated to Trents, St James, where a new multi-million civic centre is to be built.

The new centre was initially budgeted at $40 million, but an additional $8 million was approved after government agencies requested larger accommodations.

“The government departments to be accommodated in the new facility made a request for a larger building for the development,” he said. “In this circumstance, the government has approved an additional $8 million to meet their requests.”

The new civic centre will house the Holetown Police Station, Licensing Authority, Revenue Authority, Post Office, Library, Magistrates’ Court, and the soon-to-be-established Social Empowerment Agency.

Dr Duguid defended the decision to award the hotel project to ICBL, saying their proposal was selected over a competing $160m (US$80m) condominium complex submitted by Apes Hill Golf and Beach Club because, according to the minister, it would bring greater benefits to the economy.

“A hotel development offers greater value-added. It will generate employment, bring in foreign currency, and boost tourism in the area,” he said.

While Dr Duguid noted that no final agreement has been signed, he confirmed that a five-star hotel with approximately 100 rooms is being proposed, subject to planning approval.

The project has drawn criticism from the Barbados National Trust, CTUSAB, historians, and other figures, who have raised concerns about the loss of a historic community space and a lack of sufficient public consultation, with some residents questioning whether the government is prioritising tourism over community needs.

The senior minister for public infrastructure insisted that the government had engaged with stakeholders and residents throughout the process and that subsequent meetings were recently held with those who raised concerns.

He also reassured the public that historical considerations were always part of the plan and that the national monument at the site would be protected, as was stated in the 2021 public notices.

“Most critical to the current public debate surrounding this project is the section of that notice which said prospective partners need to take note that given the historical significance of the national monument in that location, there is a requirement that it be protected,” Dr Duguid said.

Duguid also acknowledged concerns about increased traffic congestion and infrastructure strain, noting that while major construction in the area could pose challenges, a traffic management plan is in development to ease congestion once construction begins.

He further noted that the Ministry of Transport and Works has engaged an engineering firm to implement flood mitigation measures in Trents to ensure the new civic centre will not be at risk from water damage in the flood-prone area.

Maintaining that due diligence was done and that the project is necessary for modernising public services and boosting economic growth, Dr Duguid said: “You can hide and buy land, but you cannot hide and work it.”

“This project has been in the works for years, and we are committed to moving forward in a way that benefits the people of Barbados.” 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb