It’s official. Crop Over is back for the first time in two years with almost the full slate of activities, including the Grand Kadooment and the Foreday Morning jump-ups.
However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight and Chief Cultural Officer of the National Cultural Foundation, Andrea Wells unveiled numerous adjustments to the summer festival as they continue to monitor COVID-19 developments in Barbados and abroad.
The plan divides the Kadooment Day celebration into two jumps – one from Warrens, St Michael to the National Botanical Gardens via the ABC Highway and the other from Windward Cricket Club in St Philip to Bushy Park via Lucas Street.
The Foreday Morning jam, which was growing in popularity prior to the pandemic, will be split into four. Revellers will jump from Searles Plantation to Ball Park in Christ Church; in and around Bushy Park, St Philip; at the National Botanical Gardens, St Michael; and from Farley Hill, St Peter to Checker Hall in St Lucy.
Officials said only established bands with a record of previous participation in the two events would be allowed to register for the new-look jump-up days.
Mandatory testing will be required of revellers at both events, but it is unclear whether a mask mandate will be in effect.
However, at other events, patrons and performers must either be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test taken 24 hours prior to the event, even though all caterers and hospitality staff must be both vaccinated and present a negative rapid test as an added layer of security.
The maximum capacity at various events will be decided based on the size of the venues and the application of social distancing protocols. Prior approval must be obtained and the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit must be present at all mass events.
Senator Munro-Knight said all the plans and protocols were established after numerous rounds of discussions with key Crop Over stakeholders, public health officials and the Cabinet.
“There was a general agreement on the shape of Crop Over and I hope that the stakeholders agree with me that, in many instances, they were able to get about 90 per cent of what they asked for,” she told reporters.
“In some instances, there’s also an increase even at the level of the subventions. They asked and we attempted to be able to respond.”
“We are very, very clear, however, that this is a national project. Crop Over is a national project. It is bigger than the National Cultural Foundation, it is bigger than those stakeholders. We work in service of a population that are the owners of this festival, not only in terms of the tourism benefits that it can bring, because, importantly, Crop Over is something that as a population and as a country we have embraced,” the Government minister added.
However, noting that the world was still in the midst of a pandemic that continues to force lockdowns and other restrictions in some places, she maintained that the festival would not be allowed to jeopardize the health of the nation.
“It is very difficult for us to predict what the situation will be and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, in particular, has said such to us, so that we are planning in the context that we have now but as the Prime Minister says, ‘you can press gas and then you press brakes’.
“There’s always that possibility so right now we are slightly on the gas, but if at any time the situation changes, then we would have to press brakes and recalibrate,” Senator Munro-Knight added.
She acknowledged that stakeholders would be relying on Government’s word to make massive investments in the festival, but promised they would not be left stranded if authorities were forced to “press the brakes”.
The Pic-o-de-Crop Competition, People’s Choice Soca Monarch, and a modified “community-based” Junior Calypso Monarch Competition will be held, but there are no plans to host a Junior Kadooment event as Crop Over resumes.
Government has also announced a suite of incentives for promoters and entertainers, many of whom have been unable to earn for the greater part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kadooment bands will receive assistance to the tune of $10,000 and for the first time, Foreday Morning bands will receive $3,000.
Finalists in the Pic-o-de-Crop Competition will be given $2,000 to help with preparations for their performances and the 20 artistes in the People’s Choice Soca Monarch will receive a performance fee of $4,000.
The Crop Over Festival will officially begin on July 2 with the ceremonial delivery of the last canes and it will be joined with the Season of Emancipation to celebrate the country’s cultural heritage and history.
kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb
