Monday, December 3, 2012

The Evolution of Social Policy: Women's Advocacy Groups in Barbados


Dame Ruth Nita Barrow, President of the World YWCA 1975 to 1983
 By, Sherill Yvette Ashby

HIST 3030 The Evolution of Social Policy in Barbados

At the beginning of the 20th century Barbadian women had to make many social and economic adjustments as they determined to move away from the plantation’s tenantry system. During this post-emancipation era women fought against a Victorian gender ideologies which sought to keep them at home doing woman’s work. Due to the decline of the sugar industry in Barbados many of their men folk emigrated to Cuba, Costa Rica and Panama seeking employment. Although women now made up a large proportion of the labour force they were being paid very low wages.
         As women moved into the urban areas, they continued to be active workers in all sector of the economy. In 1911 labour statistics showed that 77% of the employed were females. This also included African-Caribbean workers whom they had to compete against for jobs (Hart1989).  Barbadian women found innovative ways in being self-reliant, those who had learnt a skill while living on the Plantations now offered themselves as seamtresses and nannies. Others found work in the informal sector as higglers, hawkers and roadside vendors. Since many of the areas in which woman now found employment were considered ‘unskilled’ they had to work as domestics. Fathers were willing to spend money to educate their boys while the girls were expected to marry and live as un-paid maids (V. Shepherd 1999).
        By 1920 the island was slowly transforming from an agricultural land into a service provider sector. This now became the largest area in which women could find employment. Women however dominated the domestic services as this was seen by employers as a ‘woman’s domain’. There was clearly some discrimination and gender division as the more ‘manly jobs’ such as gardeners, chauffeurs and butlers were given to men. Women continued to be washer women, cooks and housemaids. The Moyne Commission 1939 highlighted some of the harsh conditions under which the female domestic worked. The Report noted that the female domestic worked from 6 am to 6 pm, and depended on the goodwill of her employer for sick leave or annual holiday (V. Shepherd 1999). Male domestics were paid more money than the female workers.
            Such were the conditions which prompted the report of the National Commission on the Status of Women in Barbados 1978. The Commission was set up to look into, report on and make recommendations about laws, policies and practices as they affected women in Barbados. Three such areas were (a) labour laws in their application to women and the role of women in the labour force, (b) the cultural and historical attitudes which lead to discrimination and prejudice against women making it difficult for them to realize their full potential. (c) Education, including the availability of education for girls and women at all levels of the educational system (Introduction, Report of the National Commission 1978).
        The International Year of Women 1975 and subsequently the Decade for Women1976-1985 had a positive impact on Women’s groups in Barbados. Many women who were not as vocal in their fight for equal rights now spoke in much bolder tones. Some women’s groups put aside their charities and other social events and became advocates for change. A few such groups were the Young Women’s Christian Association or Y.W.C.A, who provided programmes aimed at helping females to develop their full potential. The Girls Industrial Union which original trained women to be proficient housewives, and the Woman’s League of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), led by female activist Mrs. Muriel ‘Nelie’ Weekes. As the years went by other local women groups join the struggle for equal rights and Women’s Organisations were form to highlight and assist in alleviating poverty and discrimination against women.
          The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women CEDAW in its August 2002 report on Barbados at a sitting of the United Nations Treaty, the representative indicated that women living in poverty were often the sole bread winners for their family and that 44% of households were headed by females. To this end Government had put in please measures to meet the needs of such women. These included welfare grants and childcare services. At a world conference on women held in Beijing, 1995 Barbadian Ruth Blackman in her report on Barbados put forward five areas of priority under consideration for Barbados. Two of these were (a) women and poverty (b) the education and training of women. Hence the Poverty Alleviation Bureau was created in 1998. In 1999 the Ministry of Social Transformation was established and renamed the Bureau for Gender Affairs.
       Relief 2000 is located at the Bureau and offers programmes which trains women in areas such as computer studies, mass communications and bar and wine services, to list a few. The Welfare to Work Programme 2000 provides counseling for women on welfare while inviting them to training sessions. Women may become self reliant through courses in personal development, upholstery and other entrepreneurial activities. Classes are offered up to the CXC level. The National Organization of Women NOW also plays its part in being the umbrella body for many woman advocacy groups.
       There were many challenges for these woman groups especially in the areas of housing, since most land is controlled by the Government and housing is provided by the NHC.  One other hindrance is that organizers of any major programme must at times seek funding from government or the private sector. In all, Woman advocacy groups have done well in their fight to overcome poverty and discrimination against women in Barbados.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Evolution of Social Policy: Self-Help Housing in Barbados

By Sylvan Spooner
HIST 3030: The Evolution of Social Policy in Barbados
Self-help housing in Barbados
Over the past few years Barbadian newspapers and call-in programs have been inundated by the public outcry for affordable housing. In its response to address the concerns of those seeking to own their own home, the Government of Barbados has launched a series of building projects to satisfy the growing need for housing for every Barbadian. Housing projects at Coverley, Constant, Lancaster, West Terrace and Greens among others have been commissioned by Government and private entities to meet the needs of Barbadians who wish to own their homes. Furthermore, the ambitious 500 lot program at St. John- Pool, Cherry Grove/Henley, and Guinea, St. Joseph serves only to highlight the fact that a large number of Barbadians currently depend on government for their housing solutions.  A look through the lens of history reveals to us that this was not the case in early 20th century Barbados when, in the absence of government intervention, the masses looked to themselves and their own ingenuity for their own housing solutions.
The current reliance on Government for housing solutions lies in direct contrast to a century ago when working class Barbadians used whatever means at their disposal to obtain housing in any form during a period when colonial government provided little or no assistance for housing the poor. Known as ‘self-help’ housing, Barbadians utilized any means (and space) to shelter their families. With little aid from authorities, it was the iconic Barbadian chattel house which kept Barbadians housed and communities close. As aesthetically pleasing as they were convenient even if in cramped villages, Barbadians built their chattel communities on small rented tenantry lands often at the mercy of landlords who could evict renters who forfeited on their contractual arrangement. Self-built, these nascent 20th century Barbadian home owners live in overcrowded unsanitary conditions where sanitation was limited and latrines emptied into the yards of neighbours or the closest river or stream.
In the early 20th century, the Panama migration provided an impetus for local land ownership and an outlet for the chronic overcrowding in rural and urban areas; moreover, an estimated 5000-10,000 small plots of land were purchased directly with money sent from Panama [Bonham Richardson Panama Money in Barbados]. This influx of Panama Money allowed working class Barbadians to purchase property and allowed them to have greater access to quality lumber and building supplies which they used to build their homes [Richardson]. Furthermore, as they were away for extended periods they had their homes built by relatives who were carpenters or tradesmen. Not only specific to Panama, remittances which facilitated self help housing also came from work found in many Caribbean islands i.e. Cuba, Trinidad and British Guiana. Using their own agency to provide for themselves and through their rise in social standing as a result of their relative financial empowerment, some black Barbadians acquired, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, property at Black Rock, Salters, Mount Clapham, Jackmans, Jacksons, Bank Hall and Kensington where they build their own homes with little or no help from government other than that of approval of plans.
By 1965 the Tenantries Control Act would see poor Barbadian families having greater opportunities for the expansion of their homes which for the most part were still on rented land; however, they could now expand their homes due to more secure tenure and with a reduced risk of eviction. However tenants were still denied the right to purchase the property on which they lived. It would be the implementation of the Freehold Tenantry Act (1968) which would see locals being giving the first real opportunity to purchase the land on which they had lived for decades and many did so with the aim of erecting permanent homes. The increase in access to loans and financing from the various lending  and banking agencies  which have allowed not only poor, but also middle class working families to help themselves through a transition from wood to more permanent housing solutions. The 1990’s saw Barbadians embarking on building their homes within the forms of the modern day vernacular with concrete and stone replacing the wood the wood of the early 20th century. Nevertheless, in this modern era of government subsidized and sponsored housing, one should not forget that bygone period in this islands history when it was up to the poor to house themselves.


A Special History Forum: Brazil -- The Tropical Empire



Wednesday, November 14, 2012

This Week in The History Forum: A History of the Kalinago Territory



Welcome to the Department of History and Philosophy's

HISTORY FORUM

on Friday, November 16th at 4:30 pm

in the New Bruce St. John Room

[located in the Humanities Quadrangle]


Mr. Cozier Frederick


will present a paper entitled:


"A History of the Kalinago Territory from 1900 to the Present: A Story of Underdevelopment"

For more information on The History Forum, please contact
Dr. Tara Inniss, Department of History and Philosophy



 

 

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Pillars of Worship TV Series

Professor Emeritus Henry Fraser's new TV series entitled, "Pillars of Worship" will begin on CBC TV Channel 8 in Barbados this evening (October 30, 2012) at 8:30pm. Learn more about Barbados' rich eccesiastical architectural history and heritage. The series continues next week.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Barclay Family -- A Barbadian-Liberian Connection

The Barclay's Family Vault in St. Mary's Churchyard, Bridgetown Barbados
"Many Barbadians are unaware of the role their middle-sized island in the Caribbean played in building the West African nation of Liberia. They would be surprised to find out that two of Liberia’s presidents were of Barbadian ancestry. And not only that, both presidents came from the same family, the Barclays. In addition, the Barclay family consisted of very strong women who were the backbone to the success of their men." Read more on the Barbados-Liberian Connection

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Horrible Histories - Mary Seacole & Florence Nightingale


Watch Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole jostle for position in the History Books -- Horrible Histories is a BBC television historical sketch show for children...

Tourism Sector Must Change if Heritage Tourism Niche is to Grow

EXTRACT from BGIS Article: "Mr. Diène proposed that, even before determining benefits, it was crucial for there to be an examination of what heritage denoted and how it was presented. He underlined that "the two dominant features of enslavement are silence and invisibility; the silence on the history of slavery and the invisibility of [the people]. One of the first challenges for modern tourism...is first to break the silence...the way tourism is practised, it wipes out the historical content and the meaning of the societies concerned; because the dominant factor is to promote [aesthetic]...

According to the former UNESCO Director, modern tourism "in many ways is an avatar of the old ideology of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the time of slavery, because its basic values are competition, domination, exploitation, profit. Are we going to accept this practice of tourism which cut us from our identities our true heritage?...[or are we] going to promote another type of tourism which I call intercultural tourism," Read More at BGIS: Tourism Sector Must Change if Heritage Tourism Niche is to Grow

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Echoes Caribbean -- A Heritage Magazine

Echoes Caribbean was launched this past month at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. The editor, Mr. David Michael, is one of our graduates from the MA Heritage Studies programme and he is an enthusiastic and dedicated supporter of the region's heritage  -- so much so that he started his own magazine. Visit Echoes Caribbean for more information and pick up your copy from the Barbados Museum and Historical Society in the Garrison, St. Michael. The inaugural issue celebrates the inscription of Barbados' first World Heritage property, Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison.


Revised History Forum Schedule Semester I, 2012-13

Monday, October 8, 2012

Old Barbados Photos on Flickr

Please see the link for some Old Barbados Photos. Some of them have been identified as being taken in Jamaica, Trinidad or Grenada but the majority are in Barbados. Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caribbeanphotoarchive/sets/72157608812597002/

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Association of Caribbean Historians (ACH) Call for Papers

ACH CALL FOR PAPERS

The 45th Annual Conference of the Association of Caribbean Historians will be held in Ambergris Caye, Belize, from Sunday, May 12, to Friday, May 17, 2013.

Information about how to propose either an individual paper or a panel-along with the forms for each-is posted online at the ACH website http://www.associationofcaribbeanhistorians.org (look under "Annual Meeting"). We had a record number of new presenters at the 2012 Curaçao conference, a trend we hope will continue.

More information about proposed conference topics and information about the ACH prizes (including the Elsa Goveia Book Prize and the Gould-Saunders Memorial Endowment Travel Fund Award) appear online as well under "Prizes and Fellowships."

In the meantime, please consider joining us in Belize in 2013, and remember that all proposals are due to the ACH Secretary-Treasurer by October 1, 2012.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Inclusive Museum Conference, August 2-5, 2012

 

Dominica Tour 2013


Adventure Weekend is here again from Friday January 18th to Monday January 21tst 2013, 3 days and 3 nights on Dominica, The Nature Island and includes 3 nature walks, the Carib Village tour with lunch, exploring Roseau on Market Day, Saturday the 16th, and meeting and interacting with the locals. We take care of all the details. Space is limited so book now.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The 8th Annual African Diaspora Heritage Trail Conference

Barbados is hosting The 8th Annual African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Conference at the Llyod Erskine Sandiford Centre from September 17-19, 2012. Visit the ADHT website to learn more!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Dr. Marcia Burrowes :Losing Our Masks: Masquerade and Changing Concepts of Barbadian Identity

Dr. Marcia Burrowes, Lecturer in Cultural Studies, UWI Cave Hill Campus delivers the NCF Crop Over Heritage Lecture entitled "Losing Our Masks: Masquerade and Changing Concepts of Barbadian Identity" at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society on June 14, 2012.

Watch now [extract]

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Mary Prince is made a National Hero(ine) in Bermuda

Mary Prince, "author" of one of the only (auto)biographical slave narratives by a Caribbean woman, is made a National Hero in Bermuda... but she lived in several Caribbean territories before finally living in England when her story was transmitted by Abolitionists in the early 19th Century. 


During a ceremony two days ago, Mary Prince, the daughter of slaves born in 1788 at Brackish Pond in Devonshire, now known as Devonshire Marsh, was pronounced a National Hero of Bermuda...



Learn more at Mary Prince made a National Hero



Sunday, June 17, 2012

Jodensavanne and Cassipora Cemetery, Suriname

The First Autonomous Jewish Settlement in the Americas

The first mention of Jewish colonists arriving in Suriname goes back to the beginning of the seventeenth century in the 1630s, but clearly confirmed is that Jews came to Suriname in the 1650s from Barbados with the English Governor-General for the West Indies Lord Francis Willoughby of Parham. Some sources note that Willoughby invited most of them to strengthen the plantation economy. Jews might also have come to Suriname from the Pomeroon settlement, in what was the Dutch colony of Essequibo (today, the Republic of Guyana). While the exact demographic make-up of the Jews who settled Suriname may be debated, it is certain they were not a homogenous group.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

images: Historic Bridgetown Receives Its World Heritage Inscription

images: Historic Bridgetown Receives Its World Heritage In...: A great moment in the history of Barbados took place this afternoon, June 13th at our Garrison Savannah, as we witnessed the island's first World Heritage Inscription Ceremony. The importance of these areas of our island to the smooth and profitable functioning of the British empire and the strategic importance of Barbados as the first port of call for ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean is now recognised as enshrined in the ancient layout of the city, medieval in origin and yet New World in purpose and evolution...

The Barbados Advocate - It’s official!

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison is now an official UNESCO World Heritage Property

 

Check out The Barbados Advocate - It’s official!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Talking History -- Jamaica's Premier Radio History Programme



Listen to this radio programme hosted by Prof. Verene Shepherd from Jamaica. Her programme highlights discussions about Caribbean history and heritage. She also has a special segment dedicated to the CXC syllabus. Listen Online Now! Listen every Saturday morning...

Visit: Talking History Facebook


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Historic Bridgetown and its Bridgetown UNESCO Inscription Ceremony

On June 13th 2012, Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison will be officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Property! Barbados will join a select number of countries in the world recognized as being home to a site considered to be of outstanding universal value to humanity and worthy of being shared with all peoples of the world. We invite you all to join us on Wednesday June 13th at 4:30pm at the Garrison Savannah to witness this piece of Barbadian history and to enjoy the celebrations of this major international achievement. Keep checking our page for more details as we lead up to this very exciting event! Have a great day everyone!

http://www.facebook.com/HistoricBridgetownAndItsGarrison

Thursday, May 10, 2012

New: Historic Documents on Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis

The National Archives of St. Kitts and Nevis have added PDFs of laws passed in 1867 and 1868 to http://www.historicbasseterre.com/.  
They deal with the recovery effort in Basseterre following the fire that destroyed most of it.  They helped to change the layout of the town and attempted to make it safe from fire. http://www.historicbasseterre.com:88/1867%20Act%20No%2014.pdf http://www.historicbasseterre.com:88/1868%20Act%20No%208.pdf http://www.historicbasseterre.com:88/1868%20Act%20No%2023.pdf

Contact: National Archives Government Headquarters Church Street Basseterre St. Kitts, West Indies
Tel: 869-465-2521 ext1208 alternative e-mail address: nationalarchives@gov.kn visit http://www.historicbasseterre.com/ 

Discover our people, our stories, our buildings, our heritage.  See us as we were then and as we are now! See our weekly contribution to www.inSKN.com heritage page.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Morgan Lewis Windmill Turns Again!

BARBADOS NATIONAL TRUST
THE MILL TURNS AGAIN!!!
Morgan Lewis Mill Turning.


Date: Sunday, May 06, 2012               
Time: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm.
Entrance.
Adults ……..Bds $15.00
Children under 12yrs Bds $5.00
Including  one free 2 litre Bottle of Cane Juice.

 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Hans Sloane Exhibition at the John Carter Brown Library


"Voyage to the Islands: Has Sloane, Slavery, and Scientific Travel in the
Caribbean" opens May 3 at the John Carter Brown Library at Brown
University, Providence, Rhode Island. The exhibition is guest curated by
James Delbourgo, Associate Professor of History, Rutgers University and
Library, and the Natural History Museum in London.

This exhibition uses the collections of the John Carter Brown Library to explore the relationship between early modern scientific knowledge, the Atlantic slave trade and the African diaspora in the Caribbean islands. While historians have long stressed the importance of travel in the making of early modern natural history, the relation between the natural sciences and European interactions with Africans through the slave trade has only recently received attention. Examining the intersection of science and slavery allows us to see how Africans in diaspora both contributed to European sciences and maintained their own knowledge traditions in opposition to them.

For the press announcement see here:
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library/images/sloane.pdf

The online version of the exhibition can be found here:
http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/John_Carter_Brown_Library//sloane/index.html

Monday, April 30, 2012

Do you Know a Distinguished Teacher?

ROYAL FIDELITY NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS AWARDS

OVERVIEW
Royal Fidelity Merchant Bank & Trust (Barbados) Limited ("Royal Fidelity") established the National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards with the goal of rewarding outstanding teaching professionals while encouraging all teachers throughout Barbados to aspire to excellence. The Royal Fidelity National Distinguished Teachers’ Awards in association with the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, will annually award prizes to teachers exemplifying at a high and consistent level, qualities revered in their profession. A Blue Ribbon Panel will select the 10 Nominees considered most worthy to each receive BDS $2,000 and the title, Royal Fidelity National Distinguished Teacher 2012.

AWARDS

Royal Fidelity is the awards sponsor and founder, in association with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.

The awardees will be selected from both Public and Private Schools across Barbados as follows:

  • Two ( 2 ) Nursery School Teachers
  • Three (3) Primary School Teachers
  • Two (2 ) Secondary School Teachers
  • One (1) Sixth Form School Teacher
One (1 ) Special Needs Teacher

One (1) School Teacher selected from one of the following tertiary Institutions:
    • Barbados Community College
    • Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic
  • Erdiston College

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

National Heroes Bridgetown Walk

You are invited to attend a walking tour of Bridgetown on Sunday April 29, at 3.30. This tour will focus on the lives and experiences of some of our National Heroes within the inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. The Tour will be conducted by well-known local  historian Morris Greenige and will commence in Heroes Square. It will be an exciting and informative experience and will give you the opportunity to fully understand the importance of this unique site.
 
 

 

Friday, April 20, 2012

Beating Retreat -- Youth and Heritage

On Sunday, April 22, 2012, the Garrison Cadet Corps will conduct their version of the military, "Beating the Retreat Ceremony". The ceremony is conducted in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee.
Report for duty at 15h30! Support the youth in our first UNESCO World Heritage Property, Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison.




Saturday, April 14, 2012

Panel Discussion: Heritage -- Money Pit or Pot of Gold?

Panelists will help participants begin a discussion about the economic benefits and opportunities of heritage development in Barbados in the light of the recent inscription of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as a UNESCO World Heritage Property. Take part in the discussion on Thursday, April 19th at 7pm in the Steel Shed, Queen's Park. For more information about Barbados World Heritage check out Facebook Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison

Monday, April 2, 2012

Open Library -- A Source for Caribbean Historical Research

Check out what's available in the Open Library for historical research on the Caribbean.

Open Library is an open project: the software is open, the data are open, the documentation is open, and we welcome your contribution. Whether you fix a typo, add a book, or write a widget--it's all welcome. We have a small team of fantastic programmers who have accomplished a lot, but we can't do it alone!

Sample: Barbados Illustrated (1911) By Cave Shepherd and Co. Ltd.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Next History Forum

Welcome to the next Department of History and Philosophy's
HISTORY FORUM
oFriday, March 30th at 4:30 pm
in the New Bruce St. John Room
[located in the Humanities Quadrangle]

Captain Errol Brathwaite


will present a paper entitled:
"The Development of Methodism in Barbados and its Impact on Education During the Post-Emancipation Era"