EDITORIAL: First step to be commended

It was therefore heartening yesterday to hear announced that one of the island’s commercial banks, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank to be exact, was partnering with the National Conservation Commission (NCC) to spruce up the area, and make it more attractive to those who will make use of its facilities. As we understand it, the Bank intends to use an $80 000 budget to put in dozens of new seats and several table and bench combinations, erect history trails throughout the Park as well as paint curb walls, the gates and the outer wall. 

 

However, even as CIBC FirstCaribbean seeks to undertake this work, there is room for other members of corporate Barbados to also play a part in the redevelopment of Queen’s Park, especially the buildings that occupy that property. The Bank expressed during yesterday’s press conference a willingness to do more, but for such a vast property, with facilities like the Queen’s Park Gallery, the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre and even the play park in need of care, more entities need to come on board. Many entities would be willing to give back to this country, especially as we move towards our golden jubilee, and Government should seek to encourage this, and also ensure that their contribution is recognised.  

 

To this end, we respectfully submit once again that a foundation, comprising representatives of the public and private sectors, should be established to manage and execute the much-needed work in Queen’s Park. This suggestion is based on the fact that the two entities which currently have responsibility for the park – the National Conservation Commission, which maintains the grounds and the National Cultural Foundation, which oversees the buildings – are likely to have different ideas on how the Park should be developed and utilised. So this is where the work of a foundation, comprising Government agencies including the Town Planning Department and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, and private sector interests which have the means needed to execute such work, can come in.

 

With that in mind, the directive from Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, for the NCC to ensure the Park has Wi-Fi capabilities put in, is an area in which the island’s telecommunications companies can play a role. Certainly, if they were able to offer access to this service free of cost to Government or at a discounted rate – it would no doubt be a tremendous benefit to those who are able to use it. Moreover, having Wi-Fi access in Queen’s Park is guaranteed to attract more persons to the area. This oasis in our historic capital city, if it has the right stimulus, can become a true focal point in the City, not just on Christmas Day or for Agrofest, but year-round. We have suggested this before and believe it is worth repeating – Queen’s Park is the perfect venue to host lunchtime or sunset concerts. If consideration is given to this, then those in authority should also recognise its potential as a place for vendors, but a limited number, to sell food and indigenous craft, but in structures that do not pose harm to the historical integrity of the area. If this is pursued, one suggestion is for the vendors to be given a rotation schedule, as this would allow the pie to be divided among a larger cross-section of people.

 

But for now, we look forward to seeing the completed work and hope that this is just the start of more to come.