Barbados’ largest workers’ union, The Barbados Workers Union (BWU)has made a major property purchase to the tune of $2 million.
The property called Hempstead which has been on the market for over a year consists of approximately 3 acres of land with a main house of coral stone and wood, cottage and other outstanding features such as a windmill and gazebo.
Located just a few yards away from the Barbados Workers Union Headquarters of Solidarity House, the new purchase sits on Hindsbury Road and has been highlighted as a significant investment for the BWU and would serve as an alternative venue for BWU events in the future.
The intention of the Union with the property, as the local media has reported, from BWU general secretary Sir Roy Trotman is that BWU officials felt that in ten years’ time the union would require additional space for its many Solidarity House functions.
It is also believed that the newly-acquired property might also prove useful for services such as a day-care centre and additional training facilities, Sir Roy told the local media.
In addition to its Solidarity House headquarters, the union has a Labour College in St Philip and operates a credit union from its earlier headquarters on Fairchild Street in Bridgetown.
The popular south coast of Barbados will soon see a welcomed addition in the form of more commercial office space with the Lewis Tower.
Set for one the busiest areas on the South Coast, Lewis Tower will be located on Rockley Main Road in Christ Church. The property which is now home to Lewis Drug Mart will bring commercial office space to an area which has been developing at a moderate pace over the last 10 to 15 years.
The Lewis Tower will feature three floors of commercial space which will be leased by the floor and not as usually done by specific office spaces. This is according to Heather Lewis who leads development of the property. The commercial floor space will be available for five year lease.
Currently, Lewis Drug Mart is one of the island’s most respected pharmacies and it sits on the commercial lot set for the Lewis Tower. The pharmacy has been there since 1988 and has become somewhat of a landmark as it is currently housed in what was once an old colonial style residential home.
Boasting of excellent surroundings and offering modern business opportunities, Lewis Tower is scheduled to start construction in May 2010 and be completed in a year.
The Tower will house Lewis Drug Mart on the ground floor. Meanwhile the new facility will bring a bigger commercial space to Lewis Drug Mart, which in turn will bring more varied stock and a larger shopping space for clients. The family owned business will have similar offerings to the US largest drugstore chain.
The floor space available for lease starts on the first floor which has 2,212 square feet, while the second floor offering is 2,774 square feet and 2,539 square feet for the third floor which includes a balcony area.
Heather Lewis explained that one of the main reasons for putting plans for the Lewis Tower into action is that the current property has needed constant repairs and developing a new property would eliminate that constant need.
The Lewis Tower should be a major complement to the development that is already taking place on the south coast. Lanterns Shopping centre which is just a few feet away is set to bring significant retail space to the area later in 2010.
The highly debated multi-million dollar Pierhead project, slated for the heart of Bridgetown, is receiving further review and work from the firm that owns the property.
Neal and Massy, one of the Caribbean’s largest and most successful conglomerates, has put a consultant to work and a decision will soon be made on whether the project should be done jointly with the Barbados government or if should be done independently.
This is the word from Gervase Warner, President and Group CEO of Neal and Massy. Neal and Massy took majority ownership of Barbados’ largest conglomerate in 2007, Barbados Shipping and Trading (BS&T).
The Pierhead Project has been rekindled since Neal & Massy’s acquisition of BS&T. In order to identify options for a new Neal & Massy/BS&T led initiative, an adviser has been retained to interact with various consulting parties, as well as the Barbados Government, to prepare a high-level plan.
Pending the result of the consultation and the development of the concept plan, decisions on the next step, whether to work independently or jointly with the Barbados Government, will be taken.
Near the end of 2009, renowned realtor Paul Altman gave an update on the project and said: “The Pierhead project must get started – this project on its own has the ability to kick-start the entire redevelopment of the town and especially to wake up development of the entire Carlisle Bay area. It must get started!”
The well-known property developer explains that if it had been implemented ten years ago, it would have been completed today.
At the time, Altman had also expressed the view that the master plan was prepared about thirteen years ago. He also believes that the old buildings standing along the Pierhead are “begging to be rescued” and the start-up funding required is “totally affordable”.
Barbados’ largest workers’ union, The Barbados Workers Union (BWU)has made a major property purchase to the tune of $2 million. 
