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See also:
http://www.barbados.org/independence-arch-barbados.htm
http://www.funbarbados.com/sights/S_IndependenceArch.cfm
http://www.barbadospocketguide.com/our-island-barbados/monuments/independence-arch.html

Source: Jan 4th, 2021 Daily Nation page 12

DESIGNER OF THE INDEPENDENCE ARCH, Grantley Romany, says his talent was given to him by God.

Grantley's designs arched to perfection

by John Boyce - Jan 4th, 2021 Daily Nation page 12

THE INDEPENDENCE ARCH standing at the mouth of the Chamberlain Bridge in The City is the pride and joy of Trinidadian designer Grantley Romany.

But Grantley, who came to Barbados in 1980, sees himself as a Barbadian and does not mind being referred to as such.

The idea of an arch was conceived by Government as a means of honouring the Father of Independence and late Prime Minister Errol Walton Barrow, and was erected in 1987 to commemorate Barbados' 21st year of independence.

Born to a Barbadian mother and Trinidadian father, he said his mother often spoke about his attention to detail.

Today, her admonition of, "it is better to be one hour early than five minutes late, is something by which he still abides.

And, in his profession, it has helped him in several ways.

A passionate Grantley recalled working with architect Dennis Harrison when he became aware that Government had put out to tender designs for the Independence Arch.

"It was around seven the night and I went downstairs and asked my cousin Edward, 'Boy, wuh yuh doing, boy?' He then told me there was a competition going on for the design of an Independence Arch and suggested that I try my hand."

Grantley looked at Edward's design, then read the information outlining the stipulations.

One and a half hours after he had a draft designed.

"It just flowed in sketch form and I put it away for the night," he told the DAILY NATION.

Three days after, he revisited the sketch and concretised the masterpiece.

Grantley, who described himself as a perfectionist, said he was satisfied that he had given it his best shot.

Sometime after he got a heartwarming call informing him that his design was chosen as the one with which Government would go.

That call swept him off his feet.

"It was a major achievement. Here you have big design firms and architects with master's degrees, and though I never went to university, I was able to beat them," the 68-yearold said elatedly, while crediting his gift for architectural design to God.

The designer, however, has a peeve with some architects lumping others together and calling them draftsmen.

He pointed out that he is not a draftsman since he can study the information and conceptualise a design, this he said makes nonsense of a title that suggests that he just drafts what he is told.

"A man with 50 years' experience, how can you still call him a draftsman when I was calling myself from day one an architectural designer?"

Grantley, who takes pride in everything he does, said even when it comes to cleaning the yard or "bubbling a pot" it must be done to perfection.

As a young boy growing up in Maraval and Barataria in Trinidad, he was in the "thick of things" as his father built the family home, offering suggestions as to how best he felt certain aspects of the project should be executed.

Thought he never had any formal training in art, he did the subject at O' Level and A' Level.

Years later as his parents separated, and his mother built her home, he offered her the same technical advice and "oversaw" the project.

At 15 years old he furthered his education at the John Donaldson Technical Institute in Trinidad, a leading institute in the Caribbean.

The decision came as no surprise to anyone who knew the youngster as they had already realised his passion for architecture. And Grantley knew that with this passion he could make a meaningful living.

He added that several Caribbean nationals were given scholarships to attend the institute and went on to become outstanding architects.

He graduated in 1972 at 19 years old with a technician's diploma in general drafting which consisted of fields of study in engineering, surveying, architecture, electrical and plumbing. Grantley specialised in architectural drafting.

"I then worked for two and a half years with an architect and was given free rein to design because it was a one-man show with him being the architect and me being the draftsman," Grantley said.

This created the perfect opportunity for him to bring his passion and creativity to bear on his work and "to learn from him how to enhance my design capabilities".

After that time at the company, Grantley went on to spend four years as an architectural design teacher at secondary school.

"When I am in Trinidad I generally teach, but most of my design work is done in Barbados."

Though COVID-19 has offset plans to return to Trinidad to sort out business, Grantley, a father of three, said he is enjoying life and getting some sea baths "within the protocols".