Address to the Nation by Prime Minister Mottley

Address to the Nation by Prime Minister Mottley

Posted by Barbados Government Information Service on Thursday, January 2, 2020
Address to the nation by Prime Minister Mottley. (PMO)

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has appealed to Barbadians to be patient as Government seeks to transform the City of Bridgetown.

She made this appeal during an hour-long address to the nation on Thursday night, when she outlined major plans for The City, the first of which will start with the establishment of the Golden Square Freedom Park, and the construction of 100 new vending stalls at the Fairchild Street Market.

“The establishment of the Golden Square Freedom Park will see the demolition of the old National Insurance Building as well as the [Barbados] Fire Station building. This Golden Square Freedom Park must forever stand as a monument to our freedom and independence as a modern democracy,” the Prime Minister stated.

She explained that the two buildings were to be demolished using a combination of robotic equipment, labour cranes and excavators.  

Ms. Mottley further pointed out that the first three levels would be demolished through the use of robotic equipment and cranes, while the lower levels would be removed with excavators using trucks to cart away materials to the dumps.

The Prime Minister stressed that during the process, Government was taking the time to work with all the vendors in the surrounding areas to limit the disruption.

But, she stressed, that under the Bridgetown Transformation Project, there was going to be disruption in Bridgetown for the next few years.  “The only way that buildings can be built is by us doing what has to be done to take down and build back,” she said.

She added that the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTII) was instructed to engage persons to work as the liaison with the vendors to ensure that even during the periods of dislocation and discomfort, losses could be mitigated.

“But we can’t move forward without inconvenience….  It is virtually impossible,” she said. The Prime Minister explained that the project was being led by BTII, with Vision Development Inc. being one of the leading companies on the project.  

However, she noted that other companies, including C.O. Williams Construction Company, Crane and Equipment, I.T. Truck and Dock Incorporated from Wisconsin, were also involved.

julia.rawlins-bentham@barbados.gov.bb

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