BARBADOS - Parish of St. Michael

Bridgetown is the capital and commercial centre of Barbados. It is steeped in history and boasts some interesting sightseeing venues.

Bridgetown in one of the most thriving and colourful capitals in the Caribbean. The government is implementing plans to improve the city, restoring some of its architectural buildings of cultural interest.


The Waterfront is in the process of redevelopment and efforts are being made to create an exciting after office social scene.

STRESSING that “Greening Barbados” still had a long way to go, social historian Dr Karl Watson has called for at least 5 000 more trees to be planted in The City.

Watson told the DAILY NATION that if he had his way, he would plant about 10 000 trees in the Greater Bridgetown area, that would make for a healthier and more attractive capital.

“There is plenty of space if you look hard enough. There is a car parking area near the bottom of the Wharf Road that springs to mind and there is also an empty lot in Suttle Street that is crying out for trees to be put there.

“All we need to do is to sacrifice four car parking spots. You can walk Bridgetown on foot and identify areas where trees can go and the most important thing is to take care of them,” he said.

Watson was in no doubt plants would be a considerable environmental boost to the country’s main commercial area of activity.

“Plants will help control dust in The City. Plants produce oxygen and recycle carbon dioxide. Plants give shade and actually lower temperatures in the immediate environs of the trees.

“Trees create a little micro climate of their own. It is far more pleasant to walk under trees than to walk under hot, broiling sun with the dust flying in your eyes every second,” he said.

He referred to the Uruguayan city of Asuncion, where as a result of their massive tree-planting programme, energy-consumption levels were lowered and inter-personal relationships improved.

“I think that plants exude a type of positive energy that people can feel and associate with. It improves the general ambience and as a result facilitates better inter-personal relationships. It is no accident that where you create pleasant living environments, people’s health improve and the level of aggression drops.

“Trees create living spaces for many other species like birds. We should be stewards and we haven’t been good stewards, so I think it is about time we start being good stewards in Bridgetown,” he added.

Compliments of the Nation News

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