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| Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce, addressing the meeting. At right is General Manager of the Barbados National Trust, Billy Gollop. (C. Pitt/BGIS)?? |
The Barbados National Trust has been recognised for its efforts at preserving historic artifacts, buildings and architectural interests in Barbados for the past 50 years.
Recognition of this came from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce, yesterday evening while delivering the feature address at the 51st Annual General Meeting of the Barbados National Trust, at Wildey Great House, Wildey, St. Michael.
Senator Boyce acknowledged the role the National Trust played in preserving several areas on the island. "Thanks to your untiring efforts, you have been able to court generous benefactors and raise funds by various means.?? As a result, you have helped to identify, earmark, acquire, restore, maintain and heighten the awareness of the rich, built and natural heritage of Barbados."
Mr. Boyce added that despite the work and achievements of the National Trust, some people are still of the belief that the organisation only catered to certain individuals in Barbados.?? He stated that this perception was untrue since every Barbadian stood to benefit from the Tourism industry.
"… The Barbados National Trust has made a significant contribution to the tourism industry in Barbados.?? It is no coincidence that seven famous historic sites owned by the Trust, ranging from Morgan Lewis Sugar Windmill and Tyrol Cot Heritage Centre to Welchman Hall Gully and Andromeda Botanical Gardens are popular destinations… since everybody in Barbados benefits directly or indirectly from tourism, no one can deny the Trust’s contribution to our economic wellbeing.?? That contribution will become more essential as competition from new destinations like Cuba and China intensifies, and we seek to enrich and diversify our tourism industry with heritage, wellness and other cultural products," he underscored.
Senator Boyce posited that Government needed the support of the private sector and communities to help preserve buildings and other natural and historic assets.??
"The Barbados National Trust may wish to spearhead an effort, through its members working with other national organisations that share some of your objectives, to develop guides for the design of adaptive re-use of historical buildings.?? Such financially viable adaptive re-use is imperative if we are to maintain those buildings and other landmarks in adequate heritage condition to continue to speak loudly and clearly to the residents of and visitors to our country of the cultural history that is ours and which we acknowledge."
Senator Boyce urged the National Trust to continue its efforts to preserve Barbados’ rich cultural heritage.
"The legacy of all of us will live on in the way in which we are able to sustain and pass on a dynamic, long lasting, Barbadian culture based on the best fusion of our heritage and the modern circumstance in which we live.?? The Barbados National Trust must, I am sure, see itself with a continuing major role to ensure this legacy is rich, continues to be enhanced, and provides the means to make the lives of Barbadians of all walks better," he said.??