Two new vending spots are set to be completed within the next two months as the government accelerates its National Vending Facilities Programme, with more locations being considered across the island, a senior civil servant told the House of Assembly on Friday.
The Redman’s Village, St Thomas market is “on schedule” to be completed at the end of this month with the Fitts Village venue set to be completed by the end of April, Deputy Permanent Secretary Anderson Cumberbatch, the government’s chief business development advisor, told the House Estimates on the Ministry of Energy, Business Development and Commerce.
At least 14 potential locations across the 11 parishes have been identified. The initiative forms part of the wider National Vending Policy Framework established in 2021.
“We would have started with about eight vending zones that were identified and as the minister would have indicated, we are now looking to establish two vending facilities across the 30 constituencies,” he said.
Cumberbatch added that preliminary work has already been undertaken but the list could grow as feedback continues to come in from MPs.
“Much of this preliminary work would have been undertaken and we would have confirmed at least 14 locations across each of the parishes in Barbados. But as we know, we’re waiting on the responses from various parliamentarians so that we can add to this list,” he said.
To improve implementation of the programme, the government has also formed a partnership with the Rural and Urban Development Commission and adopted a new approach to project delivery.
“We would have established a stakeholder relationship with the Rural [and Urban] Development Commission… and we have pivoted to what is referred to as a design-build-maintenance model where we would work collaboratively with this agency so that we can be better positioned to execute on the vending programme,” he explained.
Cumberbatch said the ministry is also continuing work on other proposed vending zones at Top Rock, Newton and Haggatt Hall, where site assessments are being carried out.
“Obviously, while we are looking at these new locations… we’re still gonna be working on the Top Rock, the Newton, and the Haggatt Hall vending zones,” he said.
According to Cumberbatch, site visits with the Planning and Development Department are helping to determine the suitability of each location by examining issues such as land ownership, potential encumbrances, and access for pedestrians and vehicles.
But he stressed that the programme goes beyond simply building the markets.
“The focus is not only on the buildings themselves… we have to look at the persons who would be the entrepreneurs within these facilities to provide business development training and financial literacy training.”
Cumberbatch expressed confidence that the groundwork already completed places the programme in a strong position for the future.
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