32nd Elsa Goveia Memorial Lecture: Professor Alan Cobley on The Impact of the First World War

HIST 3030 The Evolution of Social Policy in Barbados: Wendy Storey on the Development of Sanitation Services in Barbados from 1900 to 1970

By, Wendy Storey, HIST 3030 Student

A toilet or septic tank, were not common household’s terms in Barbados in the post-emancipation period. Common phrases for excreta disposal were “night soil”, “totsi”, “potty”, “pit –toilet”, privy pit or latrine. Frank Ramsey, a Barbadian physician, tells us “there was no water carriage system of sewage disposal, nor any undertaking by any sanitary authority to remove excreta.” Excreta disposal was solely a household duty until policies were created around the 1970’s to ensure proper methods of discarding it, which meant that disposal was not always disposed properly but in a way the resident saw fit. There were several methods of disposal adopted by the Barbadian population. According to Ramsey “water closet emptying into a closed cesspit; closet or privy with a cesspit in the earth or limestone subsoil; a pail closet emptied into the sea; or a keg or tin in a corner of the yard with an oat bag as an improvised screen.” Even though these methods were common practices, there were all not sanitary practices. Dumping night soil into the earth proved to be responsible for the rise in the Hookworm disease in the 1920’s. According to the Report of Ankylostomiasis Infection Survey “The intimate connections between the early stages in the development of the worm and the upper layers of the soil provides the opportunity for the larva to gain entrance through the skin of the feet and legs of agricultural labourer and others whose habits expose them to attack.”

Ponds played an essential role in the water supply of many Barbadians, especially those in residing in the rural areas. Ponds were often polluted and were the sole reasons for the birth of water-borne diseases among Barbadians. In rural areas ponds were used for livestock, washing, drinking and bathing; all contributing to the pollution of it. During the rainy season when flooding occurred, garbage, night soil and ponds would become contaminated creating risk of exposure to water-borne diseases especially during the hurricane season with its heavy rains.

By 1857 Bridgetown had a piped water supply from a private company, the Bridgetown Waterworks Co. and by 1861, public access to water was created via the standpipe system. As claimed by the Chief Medical Officer 1933-1934 Report, piped water was accessible in almost every parish in the island abandoning the unsanitary practice of “dipping mugs into open ponds” -- this pond system was also linked to the 1854 cholera epidemic. 

After the cholera epidemic threatened the health care of Barbadians, sanitation was no longer overlooked because the colony’s economic standing was at risk. Subsequently by the early 20^th century, the recommendations of Dr. John Hutson, the Public Health Inspector, were taken into consideration creating quarantine facilities and Isolation Hospitals to protect Barbados’ harbour from infectious diseases.  In 1910 untrained sub-inspectors were regulated to inspect homes and premises. By 1928, the Chief Medical Officer and Sanitation Officer Act was passed, granting permission to oversee the improvement of the sanitary situation.

Very little progress was accomplished in the sanitary problem in Barbados but garbage disposal upgraded from a household duty to being disposed of on specific lands. According to the 1945 -1948 Annual Reports of the St. Michel District, garbage was dumped at Hill Road, Bank Hall, Mental Hospital Lands, Carrington’s Village, Reef Grounds, Cheapside, Brittons Hill and approved private lands. Unused quarries, ponds, low-lying and water-logged lands were also used to dump garbage. The Constitution River and coastal areas were also refuse dumping spots, of both garbage and night soil. In order to maintain proper dumping practices inspectors and harbour police supervised these practices.

The Sanitation practices were slowly improving, under the suggestion of J.T.C. Johnson’s report the total destruction of the hookworm disease would be accomplished with the establishment of latrines. To eradicate night soil dumping Privy Pits were erected as well. Public Latrines were created along with public baths that allowed the average Barbadian to have access, while abandoning the dependency of pond usage.  Standpipes were erected almost in every village, creating no excuse for unsanitary practices to exist in the Barbadian every day routine.

Even though these new sites were created to curb poor sanitation, people persisted in dumping in the Constitution River and water-logged lands were prone to developing breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Dumping in near-shore areas also persisted and often failed to remove the garbage because it just flowed back on shore. Access to improved sanitary measures was slow to progress in Barbados between 1900 and 1970 even with major changes in policies and continued setbacks. According to policymakers such as Dr. John Hutson, education was key to solving the problem and enforcement of sanitation policies were the only successful measures to achieve proper sanitation.

Work Cited

Annual Report of Chief Medical Officer (Barbados).1932. Chief Medical Office.

Annual Report of 1945 on the St.Michael District

Annual Report of 1946 on the St.Michael Disrict

Annual Report of 1948 on the St.Michael District

Johnson, J.T.C. A Report to the Public Health Commission on the Organization of the Medical and Sanitary Services of the Colony of Barbados with Recommendations. Cole’s Printery.1926.Pamphlet.Print.

Merritt, Brittany. Developing Little England: Public Health, Popular Protest and Colonial Policy in Barbados 1918-1940.2016.Thesis.Print.

Ramsey, Frank C. Protein-Energy Malnutrition in Barbados. The Role of Care in Management. Josiah Macy, Jr.Foundation.1979.Print.