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Green Space in Memory of "The Cage" in Bridgetown

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Submitted by Yardbroom

Savannah.Lafayette.Square

There are not many open grassed areas in Bridgetown, which are accessible to the general public, and I have always felt that’s a pity.

Is it beyond the wit of officials to have such a place, with a fountain, benches and properly tended flower beds, a place where people can relax. Perhaps those wonderful people who exhibit for Barbados at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, can be persuaded to bring their experience and undoubted skills to bear in such an endeavour.

The reason for this place of “peace” and its location could encompass a thought for the “Cage” which for many years before and after the Act of 1688 until it was abolished in 1838, was a place of sadness for our brothers and sisters in Bridgetown, Barbados.

This little garden of peace would be a signal of a new beginning, a throwing off of the past and an acknowledgment of the new.

In that where we were once confined, now “we”, all of us are free, not only physically, but mentally from previous constraints and attitudes.

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This garden would also signify a physical presence of a mental mind-set; of being at ease with ourselves; that we can look back on the past without unnecessary rancour, and yet be able to think of those brothers and sisters who looked to the skies in despair. It would also allow us a space for quiet contemplation and reflection as we think, if only for awhile, of them.

Surely if acres of green spaces can be allowed for a few to play golf – nothing against golf – a little corner can be found for the general public in Bridgetown.

Perhaps one forward looking resident Barbadian with the financial wherewithal can be persuaded in such a cause. It will allow his/her name and that of the family to live on “long after” other financial investments have been forgotten

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20 responses to “Green Space in Memory of "The Cage" in Bridgetown”

  1. Bajan Avatar
    Bajan

    There is Jubilee Gardens but barbadians keep digging up the vegetation down there. I dont think Bajans ready for green yet.

  2. Green Monkey Avatar
    Green Monkey

    The place would probably be full of litter within a few days of opening, as many Bajans find disposing of garbage by dropping it into a container set aside for that purpose is too complex a task or too much trouble to be worth the effort.

  3. @ loss Avatar
    @ loss

    What and where was this “cage”?

    In the last twenty years the areas around the Nelson Statue and the Cenotaph (i.e. National Heroes Square), around Jubilee Gardens (formerly known as the Lower Green bus stand) and the jewel of them all Independence Square (a former car park) have all been redeveloped as public spaces for recreation. Queen’s Park has been refurbished in the last five years and there is an on again/off again Constitution River project. Trevor’s Way leading into the port has been replanted and the area adjoining the carpark behind Carlisle House on the Careenage has also been established.

    I agree that more trees would be desirable but even with the constraints of available land and public attitudes (remember the destruction of the potted palms in B’town) there have been (and continue to be) efforts to upgrade or introduce public spaces for recreation.

  4. Tic Tac Toe Avatar
    Tic Tac Toe

    Nonsense.

    There are very many green areas all around Bridgetown.

    Independence Square, Queens Park, Heroes Square, Weymouth, Kensington Oval, the playing field and the environs of Queen Elizabeth hospital, all the beaches along Bay St. to Spring Garden Highway, the roundabout by the Globe Cinema on Roebuck St., and so many others.

    Just shut up if you can’t think of anything sensible to say.

  5. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    At the moment right now, and in a very unprecedented manner, VOB’s Getting Down to Brasstacks on Sunday, 6th April, 2008, is devoting a substantial portion of its time to examining the pros and cons of local internet blogging, and how such is helping to shape the role of journalism, here and elsewhere . So much for internet blogging!! Also, BU must devote substantial coverage to, what we in PDC think, is a very momentous occasion in the history of journalism in Barbados – journalism in a dialectical world.

    PDC

  6. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    On this said Getting Down to Brasstacks call in program, Journalist Mr. Ricky Singh is, in a general way, wrongly comparing local internet blogging, with irresponsible journalism. Mr. Carl Moore is thinking that local internet blogging provides for “journalistic snipers”. And, a rather animated caller thought, rather confusingly to us, that by today’s call in program referring to the locally oriented blogs only serves to give them greater significance; and that this level of activity of internet blogging in Barbados is NO threat to mainstream journalism in Barbados, just a small number of persons that engages in such activity in Barbados.

    These kinds of responses by such persons really probably compares with the time when the radio call in programs first came about in Barbados!!?? What is impliedly clear, too, from these kinds of responses by such persons is this that no longer are citizens in Barbados and the world over going to be, unlike the great extent before, hindered or prevented from communicating with one another on various issues and matters, with regard to the great possibilities that the internet offers (latter point hear Mr. Carl Moore). Even David Ellis just before the 12. 30 pm break in the program emphatically but absurdly stated that they were NOT going back to the issue of blogs. Talk about some persons in the mainstream media of Barbados losing power, control and prestige over information and communication flows in Barbados!!!

    PDC

  7. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Mr. David Ellis and Mr. Ricky Singh are trying to rationalize and rebut a little bomb shell dropped by a caller who is speculating over something he observed somewhere that by 2043, newspapers will be no more. However, they are suggesting that the format of the newspaper will change. The fact of the matter, though, is that the internet, and the immense possibilities it has for the world, will usher in substantial changes to way how the business of journalism is being conducted in Barbados and globally. These are the kinds of issues Mr. Ellis and the others are apparently struggling with on this program!!

    PDC

  8. Yardbroom Avatar
    Yardbroom

    The purpose of the original comment was to tease out opinion for a purpose landscaped area, “in the City of Bridgetown” in rememberence of fellow Barbadians who by misfortune had suffered in the “Cage” in the City of Bridgetown, over many years.

    It was not intended to be political, but to address a higher emotional connection between human beings; which can often be found in a suitable environment.

    It is true that there has been vandalism to some public amenities, but that is never a reason to give up completely, only to educate.

    I see no point for uncalled for agitation on this issue, there is really no need.

  9. @loss Avatar
    @loss

    To Yardbroom,

    Where and what was the “cage” which you stated ” for many years before and after the Act of 1688 until it was abolished in 1838, was a place of sadness for our brothers and sisters in Bridgetown, Barbados”? Your post does not explicitly tell us these things.

  10. Yardbroom Avatar
    Yardbroom

    @ Loss in response to your question.

    The Cage

    …” Originally the Cage was a place of temporary confinement for minor offences such as too much rum, fighting or gambling. A later Act of 1688, decreed that runaway slaves, when captured, were to be detained there. The Barbados Mercury and the Bridgetown Gazette, two local newspapers, carried many adverts for the return of runaways, offering rewards for their recapture. The Cage was equipped with pillory and whipping post, instruments of torturing and punishing inmates. The Cage was abolished in 1838 with the end of the Apprenticeship system. This site reminds us that enslaved Africans were not only confined and punished on the plantations, but also within physical structures such as the Cage.”

    Breaking the Silence
    Slave Routes
    Barbados

    Yardbroom

  11. David Avatar
    David

    Although we agree with Yardbroom in his second to last comment above we have pointed out several times on BU that the focus of the previous government was centred more on political issues. We however acknowledge Dame Billie’s effort to transform Bridgetown however the point has been made in this blog that the commensurate educational programs must be rolled out hand and glove. In many of the major cities of the world a green area is used by the population to maximum use i.e. shows, eating lunch, meditation and other forms of recreation. In Barbados we sense that although there is some effort to green that is where the government obligation appear to end.

  12. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Today, who would believe that the Democratic Labour Party would have promised to LOWER THE COST OF LIVING in its January 2008 election Manifesto – pg 6. Too, who would believe that Prime Minister, Mr. David Thompson, in an address to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry gathering on January 23, 2008, would have stated emphatically that his administration’s first three priorities were the COST OF LIVING? Also, who would believe that there are many, many DLP members and supporters who we have been speaking with out here in the public domain that have been telling us that the COST OF LIVING CANNOT BE REDUCED? Which sources of information is the general populace to believe in with regard to this issue of the COST OF LIVING in Barbados? Which? Damn it, which ones?

    Meanwhile, the COST OF LIVING in Barbadaos continues to skyrocket higher and higher, and continues to wreck havoc on the living standards of the marginalized, the poor, the infirm, the elderly, the incapacitated and many other segments of the Barbadian population!!And just like the BLP was NEVER SERIOUS about LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING, so far the DLP is NOT SERIOUS about LOWERING THIS MONSTROUS COST OF LIVING. By the DLP’s failure so far to LOWER THE COST OF LIVING, contrary to what it said it would do in its 2008 election Manifesto, it certainly is outstandingly failing the masses and middle clases of people of Barbados, who have long seen the COST OF LIVING as among the most caustic of the social and financial challenges facing them.

    What is even worst is that the Sunday Sun, April 6, 2008, is raising the grisly spectre of the flour possibly going up for the 4 th time in 14 months in Barbados, by April 14, 2008, if this DLP Government does NOT continue subsidizing flour coming from the Barbados Flour Mills Ltd. And, what would be the possible implications for producers and consumers of flour based items and products, even if government is ONLY able to subsidize part of the proposed increase in the cost of flour from Barbados Flour Mills?? Dreadful and painful, for producers and consumers of flour-based items and products who are NOT to be blamed for such situations. We in the PDC have said times over and over that Barbadians need to stop electing the DLP and the BLP – for they are primarily to blame for the INCREASES IN THE COST OF LIVING THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW. For, some of these so-called political leaders are ONLY interested in achieving and staying in governmental office, and NOT fundamentally interested in the general welfare of the nation, country and public!!

    PDC

  13. PDC Idiot Avatar
    PDC Idiot

    PDC,

    “We in the PDC have said times over and over that Barbadians need to stop electing the DLP and the BLP – for they are primarily to blame for the INCREASES IN THE COST OF LIVING THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW.”

    *************

    You are truly an idiot.

    Do yourself a favour and tune in to something called the world news.

    Over the past few days there have been protests against high food prices in places as far apart as Haiti and the Ivory Coast. Are they ruled by the BLP and DLP?

    What is FLOUR made from?

    Does Barbados grow WHEAT?

    Dunce!

  14. @loss Avatar
    @loss

    to Yardbroom

    thanks for the information.

  15. David Avatar
    David

    Yardbroom thank you for bringing this business about the cage to our attention. We were ignorant hitherto your submission to matters about the ‘cage’.

  16. Yardbroom Avatar
    Yardbroom

    Thanks David
    The credit is to you, in enabling a facility for the exchange of information and ideas.
    Yardbroom

  17. Investments on The Finance World For News and Information Around The World On Finance » Blog Archive » Green Space in Memory of "The Cage" in Bridgetown

    […] Green Space in Memory of "The Cage" in Bridgetown It will allow his/her name and that of the family to live on "long after" other financial investments have been forgotten… […]

  18. observer Avatar
    observer

    Perhaps someone out there can educate me. Why is beer served at children’s parties? Is the party for the children or the adults? And why do fathers and mothers drop 4 and 5 years off at parties, leaving them in the care of ? who knows, doing ?who knows what in unfamiliar and sometimes unsafe environs? As one of the parents who sticks around, I have to precent children from running into traffic, running with sweets in their mouths, running over wells, nurse injuries sustaining from jumping from heights, part fights etc. And why is it entertaining when a six year old girl can wuk up bad, bad, bad …. By the way, running while sucking sweets or eating hotdogs can cause choking.

  19. cecil p Avatar
    cecil p

    its all good thank you

  20. cecil p Avatar
    cecil p

    its all good thank you

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