I refer to Jennifer de Verteuil's article in yesterday's T&T Guardian and agree that more diligence is needed by the Government and the National Trust to protect our historic properties. I am referring now to the sale of the Greyfriars Church of Scotland.
Maybe large companies like Massy, Agostini, ANSA McAL etc, could come to some arrangement with the Government to have a tax exemption if they purchased these historic buildings and restored them. This will benefit some of the Magnificent Seven homes around the Savannah, which have seen better days.
Ms de Verteuil refers to "disposal of a property such as the Greyfriars Church to the highest bidder" would never have happened in Barbados. I lived in Barbados for 35 years and when their mahogany antiques were being sold to Martinique and Guadeloupe the Bajans were annoyed, but we need to remember that property is sold because the owners need the money and can no longer afford the upkeep.
The sale of prime waterfront beach property on the west coast of Barbados to English and Irish buyers also caused an uproar with the Bajans, who said they could have bought it for $1 and acre in the 1950s.
T&T is trying to diversify into tourism so these worthwhile above-mentioned heritage sites can be used by tour guides to impart our remarkable history to foreign visitors.
Patricia Blades,
Cocorite