The lack of signage in the island???s historic capital is being corrected under the second phase of the Bridgetown Signage Project.
At the launch yesterday, Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley, along with staff from his Ministry, installed the first two street signs at Probyn Street, on the Republic Bank and Old National Insurance buildings.
A total of 150 signs marking 80 streets will be erected during this phase of project.
During the brief ceremony, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Ruth Blackman, said this phase was an important step in ensuring that Barbados??? UNESCO World Heritage Property had appropriate signage.
???For too many years, within this historic city in particular, there has been a dearth of signage. We at the Ministry of Culture Sports and Youth recognised this as one of the critical areas that needed to be addressed in our drive to educate Barbadians and visitors alike about our UNESCO World Heritage Property,??? Mrs. Blackman said.
She noted that a Barbados World Heritage Sub-Committee for Signage was established and headed by the Ministry of Transport and Works to deal with the problem.
???This morning, we are witnessing the placement of directional signage, which will go a long way in helping Barbadians and visitors to identify significant streets and alleys that are connected with our heritage,??? she continued.
Phase One of the Bridgetown Signage Project was done in 2012, and included the erection of 13 entrance signs at strategic locations within the boundaries of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. This aspect was funded by the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. and the Tourism Development Corporation.
Ms. Blackman also disclosed the next step would be to erect interpretive signs in the Historic Garrison, something she hoped would be completed in time for the winter season.
Explaining that interpretive signs would be used to identify significant buildings and sites of memory within the area, she outlined that this ???tremendous initiative??? was being undertaken by one of the Ministry of Culture???s partners, the Garrison Consortium, in collaboration with the Barbados World Heritage Sub-Committee for Signage.
Moreover, the Permanent Secretary called on businesses, citizens and entrepreneurs to assist with the signage exercise since it was a costly endeavour. Singling out entrepreneurs, she insisted that there was a ???wealth of talent and skills??? in the micro-business signage sector.
She pointed out that such companies were using new technologies to produce innovative and high quality signs and decals.
???This is an opportunity for them to further develop their skills to meet UNSECO and world international standards for signage in historic sites and to market their services to the rest of the region,??? Mrs. Blackman reasoned.
The second phase of the Bridgetown Signage Project costs approximately BDS$35,000.
shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb