HIST 3030 The Evolution of Social Policy in Barbados: The Politics of Recreational Space in Barbados, by Francis Stephan Dupigny
Recreational spaces are one of the most important aspects of Barbadian life, providing opportunities for playing sports, holding social events and other special occasions available to all members of the public. However, in the early twentieth century, recreational spaces were segregated based on colour and class in Barbadian society. The origins of recreational spaces in Barbados begin in the late 19 th century. As a colony under Victorian Britain, it was understood that in the wake of the Industrial era, there was a need for public spaces as a way to reduce protest among the working classes. This in turn led to proposals in the Caribbean colonies to develop recreational spaces. Initially, there was resistance from the elite to the provision of recreational space for the working classes. This notion among the elite was best summed up by Legislative Council member SC Thorne who considered a man only doing 5 hours of work a day to be “lazy” as opposed to suffering from maln...