The recent proposals by Prime Minister Mia Mottley for a revamped Grand Kadooment and Foreday Morning are not new and will more than likely need to be modified, key stakeholders have suggested.
According to President of the Entertainment Association of Barbados (EAB), Rudy Maloney, the suggestion to hold the two events at multiple locations was put forward in 2020.
And while veteran bandleader Chetwyn Stewart believes the Foreday Morning event could be split up, he said Grand Kadooment would be negatively affected by such a move.
On Saturday during a live press conference, the Prime Minister announced that Crop Over would be staged for the first time since 2019, with the two main events Grand Kadooment and Foreday Morning decentralised across at least eight venues.
“That is something that has to be discussed. That was put forward some time back during 2020…” Maloney said.
“My feeling is that it is something we have been asking for for the longest time and it has now become a reality and that’s a good start, but as you would see all of the other Caribbean islands have launched their carnivals so I don’t see why Barbados should be any different. Actually I see this as an opportunity for Barbados to have if not the best, one of the best products coming out of the Caribbean with the creativity of the persons that we have.”
Stewart, whose Grand Kadooment band PowerX4 is one of the largest on the road, told Barbados TODAY that meetings with the relevant stakeholders were critical to decide the best way forward.
However, he said if Grand Kadooment was held in that format he would have to seriously consider if he would take part.
“First of all, we have to meet to see if what is being proposed can work. I think the most important thing is for BAM [Barbados Association of Masqueraders] to meet and decide…What is needed now is a lot of dialogue between the NCF, the bands and the players within Crop Over.
“From a PowerX4 perspective, the different amount of locations for Foreday Morning for us can work. For Grand Kadooment it won’t work for us basically because Grand Kadooment to us is exactly what it says. It’s a spectacle where all the bands come together, so at this late stage we do not think that it is something that we can sell to our revellers,” Stewart, a former president of BAM told Barbados TODAY.
“When you play ‘mas although you might play in different bands we all meet up on the road or we all end somewhere. But if you are going different locations it is always going to disadvantage certain bands depending on who is in one location. So for us we wouldn’t do that, it wouldn’t work for our revellers. Our revellers play what is called ‘Pretty Mas’ so if you are going to change it to that extent well then it wouldn’t make sense for us because we could do a jump anywhere by ourselves at any time.”
Meanwhile, the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes (BACA) is calling for more parity in the directives.
In a press release from its president Sean Carter, BACA said it appeared as though artistes were being discriminated against and being subjected to a vaccine mandate.
“Under the current directives, promoters, auxiliary staff and entertainers are all required to be fully vaccinated and to present a negative PCR test from a period of no more than 24 hours prior. On the other hand, patrons attending events, fetes, shows etc. are being afforded the choice to either be fully vaccinated or to present a negative PCR test. There are too many inconsistencies and even more questions which need to be addressed,” the press release stated.
“Why is there this vaccine mandate for promoters, staff, and entertainers and not for restaurant owners, managers, or staff? Why is there not one set standard for all to follow? Why is there such a lack of consistency and what are the determining factors which are being used to guide this process?
“Why is it that after successfully performing at and hosting several events in 2020 after the lockdown was lifted, it appears as though we are being punished for the mistakes of others? Why are we the only sector being subjected to this vaccine mandate, especially at a time when countries all over the world like the UK are removing restrictions and tourist arrivals from these destinations are increasing? How is it that our Government does not have a problem with these visitors coming here, yet there is a problem with us as their own Barbadian promoters and entertainers? Why does it appear as though we are being discriminated against?
“We at the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes respectfully appeal to and request that the Government of Barbados remove the vaccine mandate for the entertainment sector,” the release further added. randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
