12 go ‘Baje to the World’

The finals of the first Baje to the World’ performing arts competition is slated for January 9 at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Dwight Sutherland announced on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Sutherland gave an update on the long-awaited contest’s conclusion and presented the slate of 12 finalists who drew for their order of perfomance.

He said that Baje to the World and other similar projects have been birthed out of the need for Government and other entertainment industry players to provide opportunities for Barbadian talent to gain much-needed experience for the world stage.

Sutherland said: “Community projects such as Baje to the World, and we are talking about the first inaugural Baje to the World project, helps to find that talent [and] create that talent across the community. To build the cohesiveness across communities, to build global citizens among you young people.

“We as a Government believe, that the only way we can build Barbados, and become that country that Kofi Annan spoke about, punching above its weight, is by growing by scale. So that is why we went across the communities with this project to identify talent.”

The minister for youth also emphasized that cases of juvenile delinquency and young people being involved in crime was a worrying trend that can be corrected by providing varying avenues for youth to utilize talents that they possess or some that can be learnt.

“When we look at our prison enroll, we have some 865 people, and I think 652 are under the age of 35,” he told reporters. “So we believe the best way to attack some of our social challenges is to go into our communities, whether it’s through sports, through culture, we need to get into our communities and address these issues not only within our youth, but within the family structure.”

Though Baje to the World is predominately a talent show, the minister advised the 12 finalists and future competitors to take a more holistic approach to the project, and consider the numerous job opportunities on offer because of it and similar shows.

Addressing the contestants, Sutherland said: “Baje to the World, in addition to giving recognition to artists globally and building cohesiveness within communities, there is one other thing we are doing in this project. Creating job opportunities for each and every one of you. This Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment- we have some 60,000 young people in this country, over 4000 persons leaving school every year, and the Prime Minister [Mia Mottley] has taken the cultural portfolio under her wings.

“That was not because of any failing, it was because of her quest and her drive and focus on building out the cultural industries of this country. As we foster international and bilateral with the African nations and other nations, it is one area that we believe Barbados can compete globally.”

The 12 finalists will take to the stage in the following order – Anna Greenidge, Trinity Clarke, Dwayne Jones, Shakera Straker, Regina Ruck, Dario Piggot, Chad Bowen, Rebekah Carter, Cindy Springer, Casheda Dottin, Destinee Hunte and Justin Taylor.

The winner of the competition will receive $10,000 and a recording contract, while second and third place winners will receive $5,000 and $2,500 respectively. (SB)