The Eagle Hall Post Office officially reopens its doors to the public on Friday, after being closed for more than a year, marking the end of residents’ long wait for the community service.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams, made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing at the newly renovated facility in St Michael. He acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure and expressed relief at the return of services.
“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,” he said.
The facility was closed in May 2024 to temporarily house The Barbados Police Service’s Black Rock operations in preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Abrahams noted that the location’s proximity to Kensington Oval made it ideal for police operations, but plans were simultaneously laid to restore postal access for residents.
“Interestingly, this is not the first time a post office and a police station have shared a space,” he said. “The first post office in this district opened in 1949 . . . within the precincts of the police station. It was known as the Black Rock Post Office.”
The reconfigured post office now operates from a converted cycle shed on the same compound, outfitted with a service counter, new lighting, air conditioning, and improved staff amenities, including washroom facilities and a lunchroom.
“Security remains a priority,” Abrahams stressed. “The renovated space complies with the postal service’s safety and health standards.”
For longtime residents like Jocelyn Gittens, the reopening offers a sense of renewal, especially for seniors who felt the brunt of the closure.
While she did not personally depend on the post office, she said she was glad to see the services return, especially for the elderly in her district.
“When it was there it was okay, especially for the older folks,” she said. “Sometimes they have to go to town to do the business . . . people was making a lot of fuss about it . . . but at least it is back. I’m glad it’s back.”
The minister noted that while the facility now accommodates basic counter transactions, space limitations mean that services such as mail delivery operations, registered mail, express mail, and parcel dispatch will continue at the General Post Office in Cheapside.
“This is not the permanent solution. At some point in time . . . The Barbados Police Service is seeking a new home for this station and . . . full services will return to this area.”
He also addressed residents’ concerns expressed through a widely supported petition about the facility’s closure. “When I was asked about the petition, we didn’t run from that because quite frankly, your frustration was my frustration. . . this is my post office,” he said.
“In particular, it is the older persons’… it is a feature of their life to come to the post office on a regular interval to transact their business and we cannot take away that human touch. It’s a reality. It’s a part of who we are. It’s a part of our bargaining experience and our culture. So we heard you.”
(SZB)
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