Barbados Trade Union Denounces Government Plan to Sell Historic Holetown Civic Centre for Private Development

The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) has denounced the government’s controversial plan to sell the Holetown Civic Centre, a historic site tied to the island’s colonial origins, for private hotel development, calling it a “blatant disregard” for Barbados’ cultural heritage.

“CTUSAB voices its disappointment and strong objection to the decision taken by the Government of Barbados to sell the civic centre in historic Holetown,” the union umbrella body said in a press release.

“The Government of Barbados is to be highly criticised and censured on this insensitive and unpopular decision.”

The union argues that the sale undermines the island’s historical and cultural heritage, particularly given Holetown’s significance as the first landing site for settlers.

“It is regretted that the government of the day would want to interfere with this site, which is of the utmost historical and heritage significance to the island,” the release continued.

CTUSAB pointed to the government’s ongoing efforts to preserve other historical sites, such as Rock Hall Freedom Village, Newton Slave Burial Ground, and Golden Square-Freedom Park, as well as its commitment to enhancing Speightstown. They argue that the Holetown decision contradicts these initiatives.

“Government stands to be accused of acting contrary to its promotion of protecting the heritage and culture of Barbados,” CTUSAB asserted. “It begs the question why on one hand the government is moving to preserve historic memories of Barbados, by committing to the build-out of sites such as the Rock Hall Freedom Village in St Thomas, the Newton Slave Burial Ground and the Golden Square-Freedom Park in Bridgetown. Moreover, it is known that government is in the process of initiating developmental projects directed towards enhancing Speightstown, the second largest town on the island, for the purpose of preserving its history, heritage and legacy.”

The government has also faced pushback from heritage interest groups, conservationists, and architectural historians over the proposed construction of a high-rise hotel at Holetown.

Last month, Dr William Duguid, planning and development minister and senior minister for coordinating infrastructural projects, told Barbados TODAY that no final decision has been made on pushing ahead with the project, which is currently being “taken under advisement.”

Dr Duguid said: “We haven’t gotten that far as yet. People feel we have gotten that far. We haven’t gotten that far yet. The first thing to be done is to acquire the land, which we are in the process of doing. That is as far as we have gotten.”

A week ago on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mottley defended the move to develop the site.

“If this country does not invite the investment to be able to build up what we have, we will not be able to sustain our quality of life. I, as minister of culture, am sensitive to heritage; that is why the first time the government has undertaken any major heritage projects is because I’ve pushed it as prime minister,” said Mottley who added: “The reality is that the buildings at that site in Holetown are not historic, it is the site that is historic, and the government will do nothing to take away from the historic nature of the site.”

The trade union umbrella body nevertheless expressed concern over transferring historically significant land into private ownership for tourism development.

“CTUSAB does not support the sale of the nation’s historical, heritage and cultural landscape to satisfy private tourism development; where ownership primarily remains in the hands of expatriates,” the release stated.

Instead, CTUSAB urged the government to pursue UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for Holetown, similar to Bridgetown and its Garrison.

“CTUSAB urges the government of the day to desist from pursuing the path of selling property of the Crown that is of historic and heritage value to Barbados,” said CTUSAB. “Instead, the government is urged to move to have Holetown designated as a UNESCO historic site, in much the same way that this designation applies to historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. With Holetown being the landing place for the first settlers to the island, government’s commitment to selling off the civic centre at Holetown constitutes a blatant disregard for preserving its history and heritage.”

The union appealed to civil society organisations, politicians, clergy, and members of the public to pressure officials into reversing their decision.

“CTUSAB calls on civil society organisations, politicians on both sides of the political divide, members of the clergy and members of the public to mount pressure on the government of today to reverse its decision to sell off this civic centre at Holetown,” concluded CTUSAB’s release.

(SD)