Hope events spur economic activity
From the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup this year to We Gatherin’ 2025 and the hosting of Carifesta ’25, the country should be abuzz with economic activity.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in a brief media update yesterday, said that the people of Barbados were going to benefit the most from the staging of these three major events.
“Whether it is a T-shirt, a cup or cap, memorabilia is important to any major events. If you don’t have it yet for Cricket World Cup, go and get it and if it is too late for Cricket World Cup, do it for the 50th anniversary or
We Gatherin’ next year. These are the opportunities that the Government create to be able to spur economic activity and I want to urge Barbadians not to see these things as isolated events.”
The Prime Minister said while the Government was fixing up the country “first for ourselves” and with this weekend and next weekend designated as National Clean-up Weekends, she wants the public to help themselves by also sprucing up their own front and backyards.
Vibes
“Let us be good hosts or hostesses.”
Fan zones will be created so Barbadians can enjoy the cricket vibes, the Prime Minister said.
“I want this to be recognised as an opportunity for all Barbadians to be able to benefit; to be able to play their part.
“I equally want the private sector, big and small, vendors and those at the top to see these [three events] and even conferences that are coming here [as] our ability to bring people back on island, to get the level of economic activity growing.”
She said the Men’s T20 World Cup was not for the Government alone and called on all Bajans to play their part for the next month.
Speaking on the vendors issue, she said that opportunities were plenty.
“I hope, from the vendors in town to all across the country, that they will use this opportunity to be able to make the investments that would allow people to give them a piece of the action.
Contracts
“People are not only going to be in the games for three or four hours, they are going to be all around. I have sent my people back to renegotiate better rates for the vendors. I have seen some of the rates, but while I am not privy to the contracts I know that can’t work . . . .
“Let it be known there will be vending opportunities outside the stadium as well, in Bridgetown, Holetown, Oistins, Speightstown and the airport.”
Speaking on the revitalisation of The City, Mottley said the scale they wanted to go “Bridgetown alone cannot be the platform, but it would be central. As you can see, the investment is coming back into Bridgetown. I would have liked to see it a few years ago but COVID put a serious damper on everything,” she stated, citing the demolition started at the Pierhead and other projects soon to come on stream in The City, Holetown and Oistins with the upgrading of the Bay Garden.
“We just finished Fairchild Street Market and the Butcher’s Block is finished to be opened soon. We are upgrading the bus stands. We are about to do Baxter’s Road, Westbury Road . . . and Temple Yard, which is taking a little bit longer. (NS)
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