Housing Minister moves to reassure Savvy on the Bay operators

Minister of Housing Christopher Gibbs has sought to assure business owners operating at Savvy on the Bay that the Government of Barbados has no intention of ceasing or interrupting their operations.

He said that while formal notices relating to the acquisition of the adjacent car park area will soon appear in the local press, this is a standard legal procedure intended to enhance the area, rather than displace existing tenants.

In a statement, the minister explained that from the inception of the redevelopment plans, the government has remained steadfast in its long-term vision for the site, which fully integrates the existing small businesses.

He emphasised that the acquisition process is specifically focused on the car park, with the aim of preserving public access to one of the island’s most popular beaches.

“Our intention has always been to accommodate the existing businesses, which in fact were initially given a limited lease. The land on which they are operating has always been owned by the government,” he said.

“The acquisition process in the paper is in relation to the carpark and aims to preserve the public access to one of Barbados’ most popular beaches. We do not want anyone to be alarmed by the process. Small business owners operating from Savvy on the Bay have nothing to be worried about and can expect proper access and facilities at the end of this process. Our aim as a government is to encourage entrepreneurship, not to shut down businesses.” (PR/BT)