作者： admin

After nearly two decades of closure, Barbados’ iconic Carnegie Library in Bridgetown is set for a comprehensive restoration, Culture Minister Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight announced. The century-old landmark, which has remained shuttered since 2006 due to structural deterioration, will undergo phased reconstruction that blends historical preservation with modern sustainability features.

The minister revealed the government has allocated approximately $2 million for initial design and structural stabilization work, though she acknowledged this represents ‘a drop in the bucket’ compared to the project’s total anticipated costs. The restoration will address critical issues including complete roof replacement and reinforcement of load-bearing walls while maintaining the building’s original architectural integrity.

In collaboration with Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporated (BTII), the Ministry of Culture is developing plans for a state-of-the-art facility that will incorporate sustainable design elements, improved public spaces, and modern amenities. The redesigned library will feature café areas, open public spaces, and environmental considerations such as natural lighting optimization.

Senator Munro-Knight emphasized the library’s dual role as both cultural landmark and community sanctuary, noting that libraries serve as ‘safe spaces’ for residents regardless of their personal circumstances. The restoration initiative forms part of broader government efforts to preserve Barbados’ built heritage, alongside ongoing work to establish a National Art Gallery at The Garrison.

Originally constructed between 1903-1906 through a gift from Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Coleridge Street building was the first and largest Carnegie library in the English-speaking Caribbean. Carnegie’s global library initiative supported over 2,500 libraries worldwide, with several established throughout the Caribbean region.

The minister appealed for public and private sector partnerships to help fund the ambitious restoration, describing the project as vital to preserving Barbados’ cultural identity while creating functional community spaces for future generations.

Scott Williams, Vice-President of the Barbados Horizon Deaf Charity (BHDC) and a prominent disabilities advocate, is spearheading a movement to transform educational accessibility for the deaf community in Barbados. His campaign emphasizes two critical pillars: the urgent need for more qualified interpreters and the fundamental integration of deaf-led sign language instruction within the national school system.

Drawing from his personal experience of becoming deaf in childhood, Williams highlights a significant flaw in current educational approaches. His initial exposure to sign language came through hearing instructors who, despite their good intentions, lacked the intrinsic cultural and experiential understanding that only a deaf individual possesses. This gap, he argues, often leads to instructional inaccuracies and a diluted representation of the language. “With a hearing person teaching a language that is not theirs, how do you know they are teaching it correctly?” Williams questioned in an interview with Barbados TODAY. “Deaf people know our own sign language; it is our native tongue.”

While Williams acknowledges the valuable role hearing people play in teaching English, he asserts that American Sign Language (ASL) instruction must be led by those for whom it is a first language. His vision includes placing deaf educators and teacher’s assistants in classrooms to ensure linguistic accuracy and cultural authenticity, moving beyond token inclusion to meaningful representation.

However, Williams clarifies that his advocacy extends far beyond school-aged children, pointing to a pervasive lack of educational access for deaf individuals at all life stages in Barbados. He encourages the public to overcome communication barriers by learning basic sign language or even utilizing simple gestures. “Move your hands, use gestures… It’s easy. It doesn’t have to be complicated,” he advised, emphasizing that effort, not perfection, fosters connection.

Education is merely one facet of a broader struggle. Williams identifies a suite of interconnected challenges plaguing the deaf community, including severe shortages in interpreter services, rampant employment discrimination, and financial insecurity. The BHDC is actively working to devise solutions, though Williams notes a critical absence of governmental support thus far.

A profound part of his mission is to dismantle pervasive social stigmas that hinder true inclusion. He rejects the perception of deaf and disabled people as charity cases, stating, “They perceive us as if we can’t do things… We don’t need to have that because we’re deaf.” He frames the disabled community as “one big family” facing similar barriers.

Williams’s final appeal is for concrete action, particularly in employment and funding. He calls on employers to actively hire qualified individuals with disabilities and for investors to support their entrepreneurial dreams. “If they have a dream, it should be supported. We don’t want any more discrimination,” he stated, underscoring the urgent need for tangible change in a landscape where job access for deaf Barbadians remains critically limited.