Barbados has unveiled a comprehensive urban regeneration initiative designed to dramatically improve living conditions for Bridgetown residents through strategic infilling and housing development programs. The ambitious plan, announced during the Barbados Labour Party’s manifesto launch at Golden Square Freedom Park, targets the relocation of citizens from substandard accommodations while optimizing the use of vacant urban plots.
Michael Lashley, BLP candidate for the City, articulated a resident-centered approach to urban development, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing Bridgetown’s housing challenges. “I recognize the quality of the housing stock, the fact that people are living in dilapidated conditions,” Lashley stated, acknowledging the urgent need for intervention.
The program identifies four critical housing categories requiring tailored policy solutions: squatters, renters, individuals without title deeds, and those facing imminent eviction. “We have too many people living at the whims and fancies of landlords,” Lashley noted. “There are people living in rooms. That is not the Barbados we want.”
Key components of the initiative include the construction of 84 housing units at Mason Hall Street specifically earmarked for city residents. The program also prioritizes title transfer reforms, with a vesting bill currently before Parliament to simplify property ownership processes for urban dwellers.
Financial mechanisms supporting the transformation include significant contributions from development projects. The Exim Bank has committed $7 million to a fund dedicated to enhancing social and physical infrastructure, while developers of the Hyatt project have pledged an additional $2 million toward urban improvement efforts.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the initiative encompasses employment generation programs targeting youth empowerment through improved lighting, sanitation, garbage collection, and drainage systems. Lashley specifically highlighted plans to create meaningful opportunities for young men and women, rejecting negative characterizations of urban communities.
“The government has committed itself to building community projects so young men and women can showcase their skills, attend lessons and engage in positive programs,” Lashley affirmed, challenging the stigmatization of urban areas.
The comprehensive approach leverages amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act (2019), which mandates developer contributions to an Urban Transformation Fund, ensuring sustained investment in Bridgetown’s revitalization.