Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe (left), shakes hands with Managing Director of the CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Donna Wellington, after the press conference. Looking on is Mark St. Hill, Trustee with the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation.
UPGRADING QUEEN’S PARK
Thu, 05/12/2016 - 12:00am
Project seeks to improve surroundings
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank is undertaking a project to refresh and upgrade various aspects of Queen’s Park, to the tune of $80 000.
Word of the project came during a press conference yesterday at the Ministry of Environment and Drainage, where Minister Dr. Denis Lowe, lauding the Bank for the initiative, noted that in addition to putting in place 32 seats, including six cast iron seats, and seven bench tables on the grounds of the Park, several signs telling the history of the Park will also be erected. He made the comments as he said the Bank will also undertake the painting or repainting of the curb walls, the gates and the outer wall. Lowe said it is hoped that through the partnership with CIBC FirstCaribbean, Queen’s Park will become the premier park in the Caribbean region.
“The Park represents a lot of history and I would hope that in the process of this redevelopment, because that’s really what it is, that some of that history will be refurbished, re-presented and that it would become a trail of learning, not only a trail of social interactions or social exchange for Barbadians,” he said.
With that in mind, he said he has encouraged the National Conservation Commission (NCC) to make certain that the Park is outfitted with Wi-Fi capability. Moreover, he said the NCC must ensure that if the Park is going to be an improved attraction, that the necessary waste collection receptacles are installed throughout the area.
“In other words I expect to see additional bins added to the Park, I expect to see routine collection of those bins and clearance of those bins, and I expect to see a modernisation of the kind of receptacles we set out, as part of our total management of green spaces,” the environment minister said.
Also speaking at the press conference was Mark St. Hill, Trustee with the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation, who explained that one of the mandates of the Bank is to donate one per cent of its profits towards initiatives related to youth and education, health, and the environment and community, throughout the territories in which they operate. To that end, he said they are pleased to add Queen’s Park to the myriad of environmental projects already carried out in the region, among them the Portland Bight National Park in Jamaica and the restoration of the mangrove forests in Grenada.
“Queen’s Park continues and has always touched the lives of many Barbadians… It is a place not only of commerce, tourism, but one of relaxation and education; there is a strong history there and we felt that this fit nicely within the three pillars of environment and community, health, education and youth. So this initiative is not only about adopting a park, we see this as our gift to the nation in the 50th year of Independence,” she said.
Adding to his comments, Managing Director of the Bank, Donna Wellington said apart from the project, they will be seeking to sensitise staff and customers alike to things Barbadians, in the lead up to the island’s golden jubilee. Customers, she said, will be encouraged to get involved in their Independence Display Competition which starts this month. She added that the Bank will also be hosting a lunchtime lecture series, starting next Friday.
Additionally, they will conduct intra-branch quizzes on things Barbadian and will also host an old-time bus excursion for the employees. (JRT)