I am happy that you have asked for us to share our ideas, and hope that we will be able to help our nation.  

I believe that there are a lot of business that is caught up in the red tape of Town & Country Planning.  I think that business ideas need to be pulled out that can generate foreign exchange for this country, and those worked on as a priority to get them going.  For example, in the areas of renewable energy, I have read in the newspaper that the B'dos Light & Power have some plans in the Town & Country.  I also remember reading that Mr. Bizzy Williams was frustrated as he wanted to put a wind farm or a solar farm on land he has in St. Thomas.  First of all, any energy generated from solar or wind, reduces our importation of oil, and that will help our foreign reserves.  Also, if we let our local investors spearhead this area, the funds will be kept in Barbados, which is what we want, so they are not remitted overseas.  It will also provide jobs to people, and we have a lot of people to employ.  So I think we need to fast-track some of these plans.  I am not sure how much of Emera's profits go overseas.

Please do understand that I would expect Town & County to do good diligence, and to discuss any negative points they have with the entrepreneurs to see if they could be overcome.  There has to be cooperation in this country to get us out of the hole we are in.

I would also suggest looking into businesses that would grow the tourist industry with new hotels or condos etc., as this would draw in more visitors.  It would also provide employment in various sectors such as construction, agriculture, and employment when it is up and running.  There are also other niche markets that need to be tapped into such as medical tourism and gospel tourism.  I have a letter that I wrote to DLP adminstration on Medical Tourism, which I will scan and send to you on Monday.

Please do not forget the Bridgetown Marina.  This will bring in the Yachting group, some of which are very wealthy.  This will help re-vitalize Bridgetown.  It will help to have the business man's  hotel there, and the condos etc., and I am sure restaurants will come and the place would change on the lower side of Bay Street and be more vibrant.  

I know that the NCF has tried to revitalise Bridgetown by having Saturday festivals, but that is not really working, as it does not really draw persons to purchase in shops, other than to eat or drink, and to a party.  We need business activity in Bridgetown.  We need to bring more customers in, and the marina would do that.

One of the problems with the DLP administration, is that they spent their capital expenditure on buildings in the public sector such as the Bdos Water Authority, the Sanitation Building in Vaucluse and Police buildings.  But none of these buildings bring in revenue.  They are not revenue-earners.  And to the detriment of the purchase of new garbage trucks and buses.  The money would have been better spent in the Marina that could bring in money.

I have always felt that the old hospital building at the end of Jemmott's Lane, should be sold to be made into a restaurant or a small boutique hotel. It is right on the beach.  Has a nice courtyard, and parking next door.  Why does is just sit and rot, when it could be sold to help us, and be a business that employs our people?

This  brings me to the buildings that have been vacated by the BWA, Police etc. as they move into their new buildings.  What are we doing with those buildings?  They need to be evaluated to see if we will be using them... or what they can be used for.  Please do not let them rot.  Sell them, if you are not going to use them, and pay off some bills.

Our Government has a lot of properties, and they can be assess to see what can be sold, that the Government does not think it needs.  I remember seeing that Mr. Larry Warren was selling some land lots with a view up by Nicolas Abbey.  There was an area on the plot plan that was marked "Government lands", and I thought, why does the Government not sell their lot too, and get some funds in.  From what I saw, it could have been 2 large lots that the Government can get out of it.  Every bit helps.  It may seem like a small contribution, but it all adds up, and it can pay some bills.

What about buildings like the old NIS Building on Fairchild Street?  Is it a sick building?  If it is, I suggest that it is cleaned up, and can be sold, or rented out to bring in revenue.  I have heard on the radio, that some business persons wanted to make it a Mall.... but I don't know how many malls we need in the country.  People have only a certain amount of disposable income.  It is centrally located, so that is an asset in its own way.  What about the Louis Lynch school?  Are we going to let good buildings decay... instead of getting them fixed, and getting revenue from them?  Maybe we could sell the school, and it could be a private school there?  Let the private entity fix the problems.  I know we would get a lesser price for it with problems, but it would be employing people in the future.

Submitted by K. Smith