The Barbados government is rapidly advancing its National Vending Facilities Programme with two new market locations nearing completion and at least fourteen additional sites under consideration across the island’s eleven parishes. Senior government official Anderson Cumberbatch, Deputy Permanent Secretary and chief business development advisor, provided these updates during Friday’s House of Assembly Estimates meeting for the Ministry of Energy, Business Development and Commerce.
The Redman’s Village market in St. Thomas is progressing according to schedule with anticipated completion by month’s end, while the Fitts Village venue is expected to be operational by the conclusion of April. This initiative represents a tangible implementation of the National Vending Policy Framework originally established in 2021, which initially identified eight vending zones but has now expanded to encompass potential facilities across all thirty constituencies.
Strategic implementation has been enhanced through a newly formed partnership with the Rural and Urban Development Commission and the adoption of an innovative design-build-maintenance model. This collaborative approach aims to improve project execution efficiency while ensuring long-term sustainability of the vending facilities.
Concurrent with new site development, the ministry continues to advance work on previously proposed vending zones at Top Rock, Newton, and Haggatt Hall, where comprehensive site assessments are currently underway. These evaluations, conducted in coordination with the Planning and Development Department, examine critical factors including land ownership status, potential legal encumbrances, and accessibility for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the programme incorporates a significant human development component. Cumberbatch emphasized that the initiative extends beyond construction to include business development training and financial literacy programs for the entrepreneurs who will operate within these facilities. This dual approach aims to create sustainable economic opportunities while modernizing Barbados’s vending infrastructure.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary expressed confidence that the foundational work already completed positions the National Vending Facilities Programme for successful implementation and meaningful economic impact across communities in Barbados.