Another Look at Nelson

ANOTHER LOOK AT NELSON

No, I am not talking about that great fighter for racial justice and former President of the new Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. I am talking about Horatio Nelson, the hero of the battle of Trafalgar. However, I don't want to reflect on the man Nelson, but on his statue, the one that has been standing in Bridgetown for almost 195 years.

We understand that consideration is being given to moving it to a "more suitable" place somewhere on the Pier Head, but I would like to strongly suggest we leave it where it is. Places of historical interest are very important in these days to tourist and otherwise, and the statue, not the man, became a part of Barbadian history before our great, great, grand parents were born.

Without moving Nelson, we have two beautiful squares which could be redeveloped and renamed Parliament Square and Heroes Square. Just opposite the entrance to the Parliament Buildings would be an ideal place to locate two life size statues of Sir Grantley Adams and the Right Hon. Errol Walton Barrow, facing west and standing as tall, or taller than Nelson, and the lovely Heroes Square could honour all our other national heroes.

Moving "Nelson" has not proven to be an easy task over the past 195 years! Mr. Warren Alleyne, in his informative classic titled "Historic Bridgetown," records a number of failed attempts at moving the stubborn statue.


He tell us that, "In September 1816 (three years after it was erected) J. Scott Tucker, the Superintendent of Public Works, submitted a letter to the Consolidated Board suggesting the removal of the statue to the space between the Public Buildings (now Parliament Buildings). He thought that this could be done at a cost of 16 pounds, but a few weeks later withdrew the recommendation.

He goes on to say, "In December 1888, rumours that the statue was to be removed to the Fountain Garden prompted Mr. Thomas Gill, a member of the House of Assembly, to ask whether it was the intention of the Government to remove the statue, and if so, to inform the House under what authority it was proposed to do so. The following July, a Resolution granting the sum of 50 pounds for the removal of the statue was lost by 2 votes.

"A proposal made in September 1891 to raise the statue higher, however met the full approval of the Legislature who voted 108 pounds. The pedestal was raised to its present height the following November.

"Early in 1928, the removal of the statue came up again for consideration, and a Resolution was passed granting the sum of 50 pounds to have it relocated in the centre of the Square. The matter then passed into the hands of the Central Road Board, but for some now obscure reason the statue was never moved."

In more recent times, we know that under the leadership of Sir Lloyd Sandiford, the statue was shifted a few feet and turned around to face in the opposite direction. Some superstitious Barbadians claimed that soon afterwards the Prime Minister lost his seat in Parliament!

One wonders if it is worth the money and the risk to try to remove the statue again. we repeat, the statue, not the man, became part of Barbadian history before our great, great grand parents were born!

9th January, 2008.