What is the cost?
Costing remains an important part of any exercise if it is to be successful.
Financing remains a major part of the impetus for large-scale development and the ability to sustain that change to the landscape in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as this beautiful island of Barbados. Financing remains a major tool of the large-scale developers who can provide huge sums of money to be able to start and maintain construction, with the politically lucrative addendum of being able to provide local construction jobs, and after completion, the maintenance of permanent jobs with the country. In depressed economic times, governments have to attract investment and long-term and multifaceted ways of bringing foreign exchange into the island. To facilitate this, over our history, this island has looked to large private sector projects to provide this impetus. Attracting large-scale brand name hotel developments has aided in this ongoing effort to maintain the flow of currencies and information for the perpetual political gamesmanship, which is a part of modern political life.
The question still remains if this is sustainable. Land is a finite resource and we have to ask, when prime real estate is sold off to various sources for a combination of high rise or tourism-related endeavours, how long can we depend on this approach? At some point, this view will meet the inevitable roadblock of a decline in attractive sources of beach-front land; then what happens?
As a Barbadian, I want to see this island’s economic fortunes improve, but we have to ask about the real world implications of this dramatic reordering and re-imagining of this island’s most pristine coastlines. Development causes disruptions and that is not the most immediate concern. What is unfortunate is the lack of a comprehensive explanation of where this country is going.
So let us look at Bridgetown, for example. The capital city is set for what is being termed as a critical revitalisation, which will include several capital projects at various points. One will include the demolition of the old National Insurance Building, at the top of Fairchild Street, which has been an eyesore for years, along with the Fire Service Headquarters in Probyn Street, to pave the way for what is being termed as a park in honour of National Hero the Right Excellent Clement Payne. One must ask if the rush in ‘tearing down’ this building will spark a massive effort to complete the park in time for the Day of National Significance to be held on July 26, 2020.
Then, the rebuilding of the Bridgetown Market is also set to take place. Vendors will be displaced, but information on the process seems as scarce as money in the economy. Perhaps this is also a ‘need to know’ effort like so many other things in this new Barbados.
All of this is happening with the proposed high-rise development at the Carlisle Building and the Treasury Building. So the top of Broad Street will be impacted, and the bottom of Wharf Road, at a time when traffic is so heavy – in and out of the area. Has anyone considered the side roads which will have to be used?
For instance, coming from the Treasury Building towards Wharf Road, unless you turn through by the old Immigration Department Building, or by FirstCaribbean Broad Street, the artery past the Carlisle Building is critical to movement around the outskirts of the City. Remember that most roads are one-way, so contemplation of the impact makes my head hurt ... but clearly planners have considered the impact. The area by the Treasury Building is even more problematic. High Street will become a significant focus point, but can it handle the increased vehicle traffic.
We make passing references to productivity, but have we studied the loss of it, when people are stuck in traffic. Movement around Bridgetown will be impacted on all sides. Broad Street leads to Fairchild Street, which leads to Bay Street, which means a key traffic nexus is compromised. When the word cost is used, it does not refer to money flowing in. That is welcomed; however, we must anticipate the impact and cost of prolonged disruptions to the normal business of this country. To get through the proverbial forest requires assured steps and not lurching from crisis to crisis over issues which can and should be avoided with proper planning.