After a year of petitioning, delays and lobbying by residents, the Eagle Hall Post Office is expected to reopen from today.
Although only some services will be accessible at the facility, as the Barbados Postal Service continues to share the building with the Barbados Police Service, Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams said he was relieved that residents now had another option to conduct certain transactions.
“Let me begin by extending my sincerest apologies for the protracted delay in reopening this facility. We fully understand how deeply connected this community is to its post office and how vital access to postal service remains for so many reasons.
“We tried to get this opened as quickly as possible [but] we had a number of delays and we had to factor in that the operations of the police in this space have to be accommodated until somewhere else is found for the police,” Abrahams said.
Although the post office has reopened, he said there were constraints on the number of services it could provide considering that the Black Rock police occupies a larger portion of the building.
“We are pleased to restore some services to the Eagle Hall community but obviously due to the spatial constraints, mail delivery operations including accommodation for postmen remain based at the General Post Office in Cheapside. So, registered mail, express mail services and parcel collection and dispatch are at the General Post Office. This facilitates mainly the counter transactions,” Abrahams said.
Strategic location
The Eagle Hall Post Office was closed around May last year, as a result of the urgent request from the Barbados Police Service to house their Black Rock operations ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Eagle Hall facility is a strategic location near Kensington Oval.
Abrahams acknowledged that there were numerous complaints about the closure.
“It was critical that we return postal services to this community. There was a petition that had the support of the majority of residents in this area. When I was asked about the petition, we didn’t run from that because quite frankly, your frustration was my frustration.
“In some instances, persons had to do an extended walk down to the General Post Office or take transportation. In particular, it is the older persons who deal with the pension cheques and who like to come to the post office who actually come to the post office on a regular interval to transact their business and we cannot take away that,” he said.
Abrahams and Postmaster General Joann Busby were unable to provide a figure when asked about the cost of the renovations.
However, the minister, gave details about the work that was carried out.
“This transformation involved enclosing the space, constructing a
service counter, installing improved lighting as well as air conditioning systems, building a public wash room on the outside and creating an office for the postmaster.
“There’s an internal washroom for staff and a small lunch room was added for staff comfort and convenience,” he said.
He stressed that safety was also a priority.
“The renovated space complies with the Postal Service’s safety and health standards. These were not minor renovations and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers throughout the time while the work was ongoing,” he said.
He said the police was still seeking alternative accommodations.
“I’m aware that the Barbados Police Service is seeking a new home for this station and at some point in time they will move and full services will return to this area.
National security
“But until that happens and so as not to compromise national security and the delivery of security services to the residents in this area who also are serviced by the post office, then we have to share the space with the police,” he added.
Some Eagle Hall residents welcomed the reopening of the post office.
One man who only gave his name as Orlando, said he was pleased he no longer had to visit Holetown or Cheapside.
“It is a fantastic idea to reopen. . . but don’t get me wrong, having a police station next door is also helpful. I’ve had to use it more than once so it’s good,” he said.
Jocelyn Gittens said the reopening would be useful, especially for elderly residents.
“When they go there [Eagle Hall], they still have to go to town to do their business so that I won’t make a big fuss. But it was good for the older folks and I am glad it is back,” she said.
(TG)
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