Submitted by David Comissiong, President, Clement Payne Movement of Barbados
Dear Sir / Madam,
I wish to remind Barbadians that it is not only the usual Afrocentric activists such as Trevor Marshall, Anthony “Mighty Gabby” Carter, Sir Hilary Beckles and David Comissiong who have been persistently calling for the removal of the Lord Nelson statue from its central and prestigious location in our capital city of Bridgetown.
In the year 1999 the then Barbados Government established a governmental “National Heroes Square and Gallery Development Committee” to consider and decide upon this issue of the correct location of the Nelson statue (among other issues).
I was a member of that National Committee.
The Committee held three Town Hall meeting on the issue and also solicited and received scores of written submissions from the people of Barbados.
In May 2000 the Committee issued its Report and recommended the REMOVAL and RELOCATION of the Nelson statue to one of two possible alternative locations.
The Committee also recommended that the statue be immediately taken down and kept in storage pending its relocation, lest it provoke “public controversy.” (See page 15 of the Report)
Membership of the Committee consisted of several very eminent and qualified Barbadians.
Sadly and regrettably the Recommendation of the Committee on the Nelson Statue has never been implemented.
I say that it is never too late to do the right thing, and hereby Call upon the present Government to take immediate steps to implement the recommendation of this National Committee by removing the Nelson Statue from its current prominent location in the heart of our capital city.
PLEASE FIND THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE REPORT ATTACHED HERETO.
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