Edward Clarke, Chief Operating Officer Sagicor Life Inc. and General Manager of Barbados Operations.
A senior manager at Sagicor Life Inc. wants to see the revitalisation of this country’s capital. In fact, he believes that the establishment of a City Campus by the University of the West Indies at the former Mutual Building on Lower Broad Street, can be a spring board for positive change.
“Sagicor believes that the University of the West Indies has a great opportunity to spark the transformation of our capital,” expressed Chief Operating Officer Sagicor Life Inc. and General Manager of Barbados Operations, Edward Clarke.
Addressing the Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony, held at National Heroes’ Square on Monday night he recalled that Bridgetown at its genesis was a bustling centre for commerce; one of the biggest trade centres in the hemisphere. However, he noted that Bridgetown of today has experienced an exodus of both commercial and residential tenants – an increase in traffic congestion, neglect and lack of further development and a waning interest from Barbadians and businesses alike to the island.
Clarke is therefore of the view that as the capital and the heart of the nation it is vital to ensure that there is a bright future for Bridgetown.
“We can engage students, visitors, workers, free wiI-fi access for ease of communication and business, more green spaces to enjoy the heritage site or simply to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. The many vacant buildings that we see around Bridgetown and the vacant lots coming in to the city, especially those owned by the government of Barbados, can be transformed and used to house new businesses, to cater to the needs of those converging on Bridgetown,” he stated.
“First, however, we must see Bridgetown in a different light. We must view it as a city that can be revitalised to meet the needs of the future,” he stressed.
The Sagicor Executive also shared his vision for a 2027 Bridgetown. He said that he envisioned, “A huge attraction to locals and visitors to our island. We had developed many new hotels and the supporting infrastructure, that extended from the top of Bay street to the Port and our capital was filled with people from all walks of life, from across the world. Broad street had been transformed into a pedestrian mall with safe access at night to stores, sidewalk cafes and a variety of catering facilities”.
“People using an efficient mass transit system to traverse in and out of Bridgetown, powered by Solar energy that shuttles city-goers all around the capital and the outskirts alleviating the congestion and in doing so provides a solution to our terrible parking problems. I saw an energy efficient city, well lit, with optimal use of solar energy and a great emphasis on recycling,” he highlighted.
Clarke further stressed that the driving force behind a better tomorrow must be innovation, pointing out that the future is dependent on the young people of Barbados.
“So, let us invest in them wholeheartedly. We must give our youth the opportunities to excel, we must ensure their access to education, especially with programmes which cater to careers of the future. This will aid in a long-term sustainable
development of the future Barbados, not the past or present Barbados, but the future Barbados,” he said. (TL)