HOTEL: noun (derived from Old French: hostel): a house that provides lodging, and usually meals, entertainment, and personal services for the public; synonym: inn

Note that key phrase: "for the public". A legitimate hotel is readily accessible to everyone.

I've travelled the world, and entered freely into virtually any property that proclaims itself to be a hotel. The lobbies of many of the world's finest hotels are such public places that it is easy to conduct informal business in them without even being an overnight guest or a customer of the bars or restaurants.

In Barbados, most hotels are reached by driving, and many of them have gates and guards to control access to the parking areas.

I have never had a problem driving into any of the walled and gated resorts on this island. Indeed, at one large hotel where I dine periodically, the guard starts opening the massive gate as soon as I turn off the main road.

So what's the problem? My easy access happens only because I am white.

Black leader snubbed

A very important public official told me recently that she was refused permission to drive inside a walled and gated hotel property. She had been inside previously to attend events at the hotel's restaurant – but this time she simply wanted to look at the architecture of the villas, as personal research for her own new home.

The guard flatly refused to allow her in – even though she's an elegant lady driving a stylish car with a green licence plate.

As a matter of principle, she declined to identify herself – because the real issue is accessibility for all Bajans, not only VIPs.

One of our new Cabinet ministers had a similar experience. He was showing off this blessed island to two visitors, and they wanted to stop at a well known West Coast hostelry for a drink at the bar.

Flatly refused

He drove up to the gate, explained his intentions, and was flatly refused the right to enter a place that provides "services for the public".

Almost every black Bajan has similar stories to tell. Racial discrimination is rampant at many of the hotels in Barbados.

If challenged, the managements deny they intentionally keep black people out. They say they are simply maintaining a high level of security for their guests.

That is utter nonsense. Walls and gates keep out only the honest people. There isn't a wall on this island that could not be scaled or circumvented by a criminal.

Blocked from beaches

I attended a recent public meeting on sustainable tourism. I heard many passionate complaints about the manner in which West Coast hotels are restricting or even closing traditional access points to the beaches.

I also heard about many cases where boulders and other barriers have been erected to make it impossible to enjoy continuous walks along the beaches.

The message is very clear: many hotel owners don't want black people close to their white guests.

A dangerous policy

This is a very dangerous policy, because it undermines the social peace that is this island's best asset as it competes with other tropical vacation destinations. I am not alone in choosing Barbados as my place in the sun precisely because the majority population is well educated, sophisticated, and friendly.

How long will that friendliness last when the degree of welcome a person receives at a hotel is directly related to skin colour?

Racial discrimination and foreign control of too much beach access are serious problems in Barbados – but there are practical solutions that are easy to implement.

I will go into detail on some of these solutions at another time.

Bob Verdun is a hotel and land development consultant: bobverdun@rogers.com.