Prime Minister Mia Mottley made a series of promises to St Andrew residents on Wednesday night, during the parish’s Ideas Forum town hall.
She promised upgrades to infrastructure, expanded heritage and eco-tourism initiatives, support for small businesses, and environmental restoration, emphasising that government action will be guided by both community input and strategic planning.
On public transport, Mottley acknowledged the need to review existing bus routes.
“There have been additional buses coming. What I hear you asking for is more a re-examination of the routes; whether the route that we have is the most efficient route, or whether we’re simply doing it because this was how it was done for decades,” she said.
She confirmed that by the end of December, 35 more buses will be in operation, with further assessments to ensure adequacy.
Highlighting tourism and heritage, Mottley noted Bawdens, Turner Hall, and Isolation as sites for development.
“I did a tour with the MP trying to determine what are the sites and the opportunities for heritage tourism and environmental tourism in St Andrew,” she said.
Vending stations were another key focus. Mottley stressed the need for order and safety: “This is not a case of anybody being able to go and set up where they feel like . . . .The country has decriminalised illegal vending. We don’t want anybody to go to prison for selling in the wrong place, but there has to be order.”
She said prototypes for properly designed stalls will be introduced to ensure functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Community development initiatives were outlined, including support from the Rural Development Commission for constructing vending stores and other small projects.
Mottley announced four national cleanup weekends annually, emphasising: “The principle of cleanliness and godliness . . . is not only aesthetically pleasing but it is a safety issue and a public health issue at the same time.”
Addressing environmental concerns, the prime minister confirmed the establishment of the Barbados Ocean and Coastal Authority to manage beach preservation and mitigate coastal erosion.
“The notion of us fixing a beach here and a beach there can’t work anymore,” she said, noting stabilisation measures are being prioritised for St Andrew and St Joseph.
Education and social welfare were also highlighted. Mottley reaffirmed school repairs and feeding programmes, saying: “If a child [is] hungry, what are you going to learn? . . . Over the years there has been an ad hoc arrangement. We want to remove that.”
She raised concerns about Barbados’ declining birth rate and ageing population, emphasising the need for skilled labour. “If the country is only producing 2 000 people on average, where are you going to get the range of skills necessary to keep the Scotland district alive?”
(SZB)
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