Mural Project helping to transform Bridgetown
A view of the mural that now beautifies Flower Pot Alley, Lower Broad Street, Bridgetown.
From left: Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, discusses the transformation of Flower Pot Alley with Managing Director of Diamonds International, Jacob Hassid and Sharon Christie of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
By:
Regina Selman Moore
THE Mural Project, launched earlier this year in an effort to transform a number of alleys in historic Bridgetown, is bearing fruit.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, toured Flower Pot Alley, Lower Broad Street yesterday, as part of the ongoing Mural Project in the City. He explained that the first mural, which now serves to beautify a wall in the alley on the building which houses Diamonds International, has already started to transform the capital, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
He further expressed his hope that by beautifying the area, it would help to curb some of the negative practices that have been taking place in that alley and serve to draw customers to businesses in the vicinity.
“This alley of course, before this project was done, was really I would say a national disgrace, because of the kinds of things that were being done in the alley. People of course were defacing it, (it was filled with) litter and we had the whole problem of persons entering the alley and urinating (in it). In other words, it was not a thing of beauty. This project was meant to transform and I think it has started the whole process of transforming the alley into a thing of beauty,” Minister Lashley pointed out.
“Now we’re moving towards the celebration of our 50th Anniversary of Independence, one of the things I am sure visitors will look at, is how our City looks,” the Minister further commented.
Stressing that quite a lot of work is needed in terms of preserving the significance of Historic Bridgetown, he noted that it can work through a partnership arrangement and he went on to state that not only Government and store owners, but the public in general should see the need to beautify the alleys and keep them clean.
He meanwhile had high praise for Jacob Hassid, Managing Director of Diamonds International, as well as the artists and volunteers who have come on board to support the Mural Project and help with the beautification of the City.
“I really have to compliment the management of Diamonds International (especially) Mr. Hassid. He has actually been a champion in terms of moving the process forward. They have demonstrated, certainly by spending quite a bit of money, what store owners can do to help beautify Historic Bridgetown,” Lashley said.
With this alley and many more to come fully transformed, the aim going forward is to get permission to have musicians and artistes performing on Saturdays in Bridgetown, so persons can be entertained and truly witness and appreciate the transformation.
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