Craft Development

The BIDC is responsible for promoting investment and development of the local crafts sector. The Pelican Estate and more particularly the Pelican Craft Centre is the focal institutional framework through which the Corporation seeks to discharge its responsibility. Twenty-five (25) retail shops, 14 workshops, 2 restaurants, a gallery and a training room presently comprise the main facilities of the Centre.

Although a few production workshops remain from the old regime the "retail only" concept characterizes the business operations of the new Centre. The expectation of a steady pedestrian flow through the main walkway of the Centre from the Brtidgetown Port to the City Centre and back has not been realized.

The challenges that currently exist for BIDC are to create a new look Pelican, find the right mix of the types and offerings of shops that, together with aggressive marketing and efficient management can turn around the fortunes of the business operations.