Concerns remain but bandleaders to make best of changes to Crop Over 2022

Crop Over stakeholders are generally happy there will be a summer festival this year but there are still concerns about some of the changes, particularly the Kadooment Day jump-up not including the Mighty Grynner Highway.

Among them are bandleaders who say it will be challenging to produce costumes at such short notice.

On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight announced several adjustments to the festival when it resumes after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including having two routes for the Kadooment Day jump-up  – one beginning at Warrens, St Michael to the National Botanical Gardens via the ABC Highway, and the other from Windward Cricket Club, St Philip to Bushy Park via Lucas Street.

The Foreday Morning jump has been divided into four, with some revellers jumping from Searles Plantation to Ball Park, Christ Church; others jamming in and around Bushy Park, St Philip; at the National Botanical Gardens, St Michael; and from Farley Hill, St Peter to Checker Hall, St Lucy.

Senator Munro-Knight had said all the plans and protocols were established after numerous rounds of discussions with key Crop Over stakeholders.

However, when contacted by Barbados TODAY, several bandleaders indicated they were not fully satisfied with the final decisions.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, they said they would rather entertainment events be held during Crop Over 2022 and see a return to the Kadooment Day jump next year. Some stakeholders also suggested that to take the traditional Mighty Grynner Highway jump out of Crop Over was to “slow kill” the festival, while others said they felt as though the festival was being produced halfway.

Some bandleaders who source their costumes from overseas added that getting materials here in time for Grand Kadooment may be difficult at such short notice.

President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) Anthony Layne told Barbados TODAY that “we are going to try to produce the best Crop Over season as we can under the current circumstances”.

“But in terms of the different decisions and so on, discussions are still ongoing so I will come back at a later date when we have everything settled,” he said.

Meanwhile, co-founder and chairman of Baje International Richard Haynes said he was ecstatic that Barbadians will once again be able to enjoy the summer festival.

“Understandably, there is some concern because it’s a huge investment and a huge undertaking, but we trust the Government and their decisions. In terms of the routes and so on, I certainly can’t get into that conversation because I am not part of the decision-making process,” he said.

“But I certainly would like to see us get back to the original route because the original route wasn’t just about playing mas, it was about all the communities that we passed through and impacted economically and positively while doing so. So, I certainly hope that we get back there but we are grateful for whatever we can this year.”

Making it clear that he could not speak on behalf of the entire masquerading community, Haynes said bandleaders could not be expected to put out the kind of product they have in the past, after losing an estimated five months of planning and efforts to secure funding.

He said in order for bandleaders to be able to produce as best as possible a show on the road this year, corporate Barbados would have to provide funding and sponsorship.

“It is an exhausting process. So, what we have to do, and I mean about Baje, we have to look realistically at what we can do in a very short space of time, but ultimately protect the brand of Baje International and Barbados because the bands represent our country.

“[We have to] do something that is realistic within our financial means and within our time means, because we have lost about five months of preparation and tedious work. Right now, we would be actually preparing to launch,” the bandleader said.

In announcing the Crop Over plans, Senator Munro-Knight said Government has agreed to a subvention of $10 000 for all registered and qualified Grand Kadooment bands, and, for the first time ever, Foreday Morning bands will receive a $3 000 subvention.

Haynes said the monetary assistance is a gracious move by Government and will provide some level of comfort.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb