CALLS FOR TALKS OVER RENAMING TOWN’S STREETS
A CARMARTHEN councillor wants talks to begin over renaming streets near Picton Monument.
The 25-metre tall obelisk to the Welsh officer Sir Thomas Picton of the British Army who fought in the Napoleonic Wars has stood since 1888.
But there are now calls for an end to the celebration of the life of someone who, while lauded by many throughout the last two centuries as a war hero, has been described as a “racist murderer”.
Three streets in Carmarthen near the monument bear Picton’s name: Picton Terrace, Picton Place and Picton Court.
County councillor Ken Lloyd, who represents Carmarthen Town North, and a former mayor of the town, said: “What to do about Picton Monument won’t be an easy fix, but I believe the conversation about renaming those streets near the monument should begin in earnest.
“This wouldn’t just be a lasting legacy, but would serve as a focal point that these streets were renamed in memory of a black man in America whose tragic death finally led to real change, and the beginning of the end of structural and institutional racism in our society.
“That really would be a history lesson our descendants would thank us for.”
He added: “These recent demonstrators are teaching us that it was the slave trade that made this and other countries the wealthy nations we are today, albeit that this wealth is so unequally shared.”
Coupled to Mr Lloyd’s calls for conversations to begin over possibly renaming the streets, at Carmarthenshire Council’s February meeting fellow Labour councillor Fozia Akhtar, who represents Llwynhendy in Llanelli, proposed a motion requesting the council to actively look at recruiting a workforce that properly reflects our community.
In addition, that the council commits to working with community groups to understand barriers that exist for individuals from the BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) community, and that it engages with representatives from that community to work together in making Carmarthenshire a shining beacon and leader in creating a more inclusive workforce.
That motion was passed by the council and Cllr Lloyd said: “I was privileged to second councillor Akhtar’s motion, which also called for the setting up of an advisory body primarily made up of people from the BAME community to oversee the council’s Strategic Equity Plan and to report to the council annually on progress
Ms Akhtar said: “Coming from a BAME background myself with values embedded in the Labour Party, I felt duty bound to take a lead on this issue.
“I was delighted and grateful that this motion received unanimous cross party support. Our progress on implementing this has been interrupted by Covid-19 but I hope we will soon be back on track.”