Barbados Trade Union Denounces Government Plan to Sell Historic Holetown Civic Centre for Private Development

The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) has denounced the government’s controversial plan to sell the Holetown Civic Centre, a historic site tied to the island’s colonial origins, for private hotel development, calling it a “blatant disregard” for Barbados’ cultural heritage.

“CTUSAB voices its disappointment and strong objection to the decision taken by the Government of Barbados to sell the civic centre in historic Holetown,” the union umbrella body said in a press release.

“The Government of Barbados is to be highly criticised and censured on this insensitive and unpopular decision.”

The union argues that the sale undermines the island’s historical and cultural heritage, particularly given Holetown’s significance as the first landing site for settlers.

“It is regretted that the government of the day would want to interfere with this site, which is of the utmost historical and heritage significance to the island,” the release continued.

CTUSAB pointed to the government’s ongoing efforts to preserve other historical sites, such as Rock Hall Freedom Village, Newton Slave Burial Ground, and Golden Square-Freedom Park, as well as its commitment to enhancing Speightstown. They argue that the Holetown decision contradicts these initiatives.

“Government stands to be accused of acting contrary to its promotion of protecting the heritage and culture of Barbados,” CTUSAB asserted. “It begs the question why on one hand the government is moving to preserve historic memories of Barbados, by committing to the build-out of sites such as the Rock Hall Freedom Village in St Thomas, the Newton Slave Burial Ground and the Golden Square-Freedom Park in Bridgetown. Moreover, it is known that government is in the process of initiating developmental projects directed towards enhancing Speightstown, the second largest town on the island, for the purpose of preserving its history, heritage and legacy.”

The government has also faced pushback from heritage interest groups, conservationists, and architectural historians over the proposed construction of a high-rise hotel at Holetown.

Last month, Dr William Duguid, planning and development minister and senior minister for coordinating infrastructural projects, told Barbados TODAY that no final decision has been made on pushing ahead with the project, which is currently being “taken under advisement.”

Dr Duguid said: “We haven’t gotten that far as yet. People feel we have gotten that far. We haven’t gotten that far yet. The first thing to be done is to acquire the land, which we are in the process of doing. That is as far as we have gotten.”