On the eve of the 48th anniversary of the Holetown Festival, Senators were on the floor of Parliament Wednesday explaining the heritage value of that historic location.
They were highly vocal about the preservation of the heritage site. Of importance too, was the fact that the festival, which has been staged for nearly half a century, needs a lifeline as the number of participants and patrons have fallen off over the years. The festival was started in 1977 to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the first English settlement.
Government Senator Dr. Crystal Haynes voiced strong opposition to her administrations’ proposal to relinquish control of the historic Holetown Civic Centre in St. James to a private tourism operator. She called for the land to remain publicly accessible, highlighting concerns over heritage preservation.
“We have spoken a lot about heritage; we are actively building out at Newton Burial Ground, we have done some works at Golden Square so that people can better understand the story of what has happened there. Right now, there is a single obelisk standing in commemoration of the landing; I think we can do more to tell the story of the site,” she explained.
Senator Charles Morris also lent his voice to the conversation, urging Barbadians to take greater ownership of their history rather than simply seeking to tear down old structures.
“Maybe what we need rather than tearing down buildings, tearing down statues, is for some of the parents to go with our children and say, ‘this is the beach, this is what happened,’ and then they can be able to say to our children like the Israelites said to their children: ‘Lest you forget.’”
This sentiment echoes the grandeur of the Holetown Festival in years past. The opening event is always staged by the historic monument. A look back to previous festivals paints a picture of a vibrant and thriving event that attracted crowds from across the island and beyond. The streets teemed with activity as food stalls overflowed with Bajan delicacies, while cultural performances filled the air with the sounds of folk and classical music.
The parade, led by the Mounted Branch of the Royal Barbados Police Force and featuring vintage cars, pageant queens, and steel bands, was a spectacle of national pride. The festival was once the crown jewel of Barbadian heritage celebrations on the West Coast.
Today, it is but a shadow of its former self, languishing in neglect and disinterest.
Opposition Senator Ryan Walters also highlighted the historical site while lamenting the lack of support and attention to the Holetown Festival.
“If we look at Holetown itself, Holetown is significant to the heritage of Barbados, as it was the place where the first settlers landed. The historic Holetown Monument is erected in the area of the Civic Centre. So, is that going to be demolished when the construction for the hotel is started?” Walters asked.
He further pointed out the glaring discrepancy in the allocation of resources between government-backed events like the We Gatherin’ initiative and the Holetown Festival.
We have something called the Holetown Festival, which actually starts this weekend. But we’ve not heard a song or dance about the Holetown Festival, like we have been hearing about the We Gatherin’ in St. Peter.”
His critique did not stop there.
“We are leaving out these traditional heritage events that we came along celebrating and that should not be pushed aside. I think that we have to still hold on to some of those things that we cherish. When, as a boy, I used to catch long bus rides to Holetown Festival, there used to be a pageant. I don’t think the pageant has been held since 2018. And that is significant in terms of young ladies engaging in wholesome and productive activities. Hairdressers, local designers, they all benefited. We cannot let these things fade away,” the senator said.
Ironically, the Government too has admitted that the festival is declining and needs a much-needed leg up. However, despite repeated promises nothing has been done to revitalise the festival.
In 2019, while speaking at the opening of the festival, then Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds, boldly declared that Holetown Festival was in line for a “government-led rejuvenation plan”.
“As we refresh, reimagine, and rethink Holetown, it must encompass more people who reflect the average Barbadian person,” Symmonds proclaimed.
He spoke grandly of placing the technical expertise of the Barbados Tourism Authority at the disposal of the festival committee and providing financial assistance from the state.
“You have been tested and tried and placed in the balance and have not been found wanting. Forty years is a long time, and you cannot be allowed to fail,” he said then.
But what has changed? Where are the funds? Where is the technical expertise? Where is the commitment to preserving a festival that has served as the heartbeat of Holetown for nearly five decades?
We cannot fail these cultural events that define us as a people. We cannot pour money into grandiose projects while ignoring the very fabric of our heritage. The Holetown Festival, once a proud celebration of Barbadian history, is now an afterthought, seemingly left to wither.
Holetown Festival deserves the prominence and support equal to the historic significance of the location it commemorates. It deserves better than mere lip service to heritage but active investments in its survival and growth.
To let this festival die would be an unforgivable betrayal of our history. We must act now before it is too late.
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