Kadooment hailed as smooth, safe as organisers embrace changes

Barbados’ flagship Crop Over event, the FLOW Grand Kadooment, has been declared an overwhelming success by organisers, with enhanced security and smoother operations setting the tone for the festivities this year. While some adjustments to judging and band movement were tested, stakeholders say early feedback points to improvements that could shape future editions.

President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) and bandleader of Colorz, Bryan Worrell, told Barbados TODAY that, while full consultations with all bandleaders are still pending, initial reports from the event coordinator suggest that the last band on the road passed the first judging point at approximately 1:50 p.m.

Worrell acknowledged minor issues during the event but described the overall operation as smooth. 

“There was some breakdown in terms of where the trucks were supposed to be, but for the most part, it was pretty smooth running yesterday,” he said. 

He also commended the Barbados Police Service ºfor their increased presence, which he credited with helping to prevent band intrusions.

Addressing concerns surrounding judging procedures, Worrell clarified that the decision to modify the judging process was made collaboratively after consultations with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and other stakeholders. He explained that the adjustment aimed to address bottlenecks experienced last year, such as late starts and delays at judging points.

“What people need to understand is that a band lines up on the road before it gets to the stage, and the longer you have bands waiting, the longer the process of getting to that stage becomes. The sun is extremely hot, and it’s very difficult to get to and from the stage,” Worrell said. “This year, we looked at whether party bands could go through judging without stopping, which would make the process much faster.”

Worrell emphasised that although these changes are experimental for 2025, judging of party bands remains a possibility in future editions.

He also congratulated Betty West, a veteran bandleader and stalwart, for winning multiple awards, and Quincy Jones, bandleader of Zenobia, who also won awards.

In a separate interview conducted on the road yesterday with Barbados TODAY, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Culture, Senator Shantal Munro-Knight, expressed her satisfaction with the event. 

She stated: “Crop Over continues to showcase our vibrant culture, and I am pleased with how smoothly the festival was conducted this year. The government remains committed to supporting and promoting Barbados’ rich cultural traditions.”

NCF CEO Carol Roberts stressed the importance of stakeholder collaboration this year. She said: “The process involved coordination with various stakeholders, and our goal was always to improve the experience while preserving our cultural heritage.” 

corettajoe@barbadostoday.bb