(i)       Complete a Three-year Strategic Plan for the GHA Project

The BGHC Board recognises that the completion of a detailed strategic plan that not only seeks to realise business development objectives, but one that addresses physical development requirements of the area and a strategic programme for sustainable development, is a prerequisite to the successful implementation of the GHA project.   The completion of this document by a consultant or consulting firm will be done in collaboration with a Programme Development Specialist who will be employed in the early stages of the project.  This role will eventually evolve to one of Project Manager or Executive Director.  

The business plan component will provide the financial “blueprint” for start-up and profitable operation of the GHA.   It will also serve as a prospectus for potential future investors and lenders. It will explain how the organisation will function, clearly describe the organisation’s characteristics, and detail how the organisation will achieve its objective of financial independence. 

The strategic development component will provide a programme development road map setting out quarterly benchmarks in areas such as GHA product development, marketing, quality control, environmental management, among other areas.  This plan will focus on the critically important first three years of project development and implementation.  

In order to develop the business plan, the BGHC Board will undertake a public procurement process to select a Consultant or consulting firm and a Programme Development Specialist.  Given that the latter position must be a tourism development professional, ideally with extensive management experience, the candidate search will focus on local, regional and international tourism industry networks.

The physical development component of the plan will focus on upgrading venues, transportation links, parking, and other facilities to internationally accepted standards required to successfully support the initial phase of GHA tourism activities.  Environmental issues will also be a key consideration.  A specific plan for protecting the area’s natural system and enhancing selected natural communities will be completed (with particular focus on tree/botanical communities on land and coral reef systems in the near-shore marine environment).  A similar plan has been developed for the area but has only been implemented to a small degree.  This plan, approved by the government of Barbados, will be consulted in the preparation of this component.

(ii)       Develop and Implement an “Anchor” GHA Programme: “The Garrison Heritage Showcase”

Implementing an “anchor” project at the start-up of any ambitious, multi-phase development project is critically important towards establishing project momentum, marketplace recognition, consumer excitement and demand, and, in the long run, overall project success.   Following this guideline, the GHA Programme Development Specialist, with support of the BGHC Board and contracted business planning consultants, will develop and implement an “anchor” GHA programme entitled “The Garrison Heritage Showcase”.  This showcase will be a package of three special events that build on tour experiences currently offered.   The showcase package will include: 

o       The Changing of the Guard: The West India Company

This will be a daily (the exact hour to be determined), highly colourful, highly entertaining ceremony featuring members of the West India Company dressed in full traditional regalia.   The ceremony will be high in pageantry and will include intricate military marching formations and other features to be determined with the assistance of top local authorities on the history of the West India Company.  A top local choreographer will also be consulted to help detail the dramatic movements of the Company.

A short interpretive presentation on the history of the West India Company will also be given as part of the ceremony.

o       Multi-stage Historic Dramatisation 

This will be a special dramatic presentation presented daily during weekdays and once on Saturdays.  The close proximity of a number of Garrison buildings to one another and the central location of the Savannah offers an opportunity to center the audience between two stages of action.   A local play write will be contracted to finalize the script and details of the production, while local actors will be recruited present the dramatisation.  

o       Military Tattoo Savannah

The traditions of the Barbados Zouave Regiment Band and the Barbados Royal Police Force will be brought alive through a military tattoo. This will be a special presentation presented twice a yearly.  

(iii)             Interpretive Centre and Public Outreach

The BGHC is committed to increasing public awareness of the importance of the history of the Barbados Garrison.  It is intended that there be a permanent interpretive centre, located at one of the key sites of the area, where dramatic exhibits will provide the visitor with a quality experience that combines historical artifacts with new interpretive material.  This initiative will be implemented in concert with other public and private sector led efforts to attract people to the project area.

(iv)           Project Management

This aspect of the project is essential to facilitate the other more tangible activities and should run concurrently with the activities that it supports.

Collaboration with other National Initiatives  

The GHA project will collaborate with existing initiatives in the project area that are consistent with the project’s goals and objectives. As alluded to previously, the project will also work in concert with national efforts to achieve World Heritage Site Status for the Bridgetown and Garrison areas.

Time frame

The BGHC Board is prepared to begin development of the Strategic Plan immediately upon receipt of funding.  A transparent selection process to procure consultants for this work will be undertaken.  Implementation of the initial GHA showcase events will be immediate upon receipt of funding / sponsorship for this purpose as these activities may be executed before the Three-Year plan is completed.  The project funding cycle will be two calendar years.