#BTEditorial – Kadooment numbers still dwindling no matter the route

Our unique 2022 Crop Over Festival ended on Monday with masqueraders parading in Grand Kadooment from Warrens, St Michael to Bussa Statue and back down to the National Stadium via Waterford Bottom.

The route, like anything new, has sparked a national debate about whether revellers and spectators should return to the old route which ends on the Mighty Grynner Highway. Many voiced their opposition to the new ABC Highway route, as is their right, while others gave the change a warm welcome and thumbs up.

The Barbados Police Service reported that the space in the area allowed them to better secure the route. This meant they did not have to contend with the barrage of criminal issues that often plague the annual jump-up when it hits certain communities.

Still strong opposition to the route was seen across social media:

• “The ole route has much sentimental value for Barbados. It is a culture and people around the world love it.”

• “They just kill Crop Over by changing the route. They should leave it as normal. It will never be the same.”

• “Too many bare spots, especially between roundabouts.”

• “Keep the route the same old way. I hate the new route and ending by the stadium.”

However, there were many others, especially revellers, who disagreed:

• “I like changes. Feel good ‘bout it. I happy.”

• “I wore flats to get a feel of this route and I got the feel. This route is epic. I will be back next year.”

• “The route was long but I loved it!”

• “Look how much space – keep this new route please.”

• “Loving this new route for Kadooment.”

• “Passing by Bussa on Emancipation Day was brilliant! Loved the route.”

• “Kadooment for years has outgrown that route. We like to pretend it was ever so awesome, it really wasn’t. It’s just what we were accustomed to. For years the police wanted change, bandleaders wanted change, revellers wanted change. Change finally happens…. We outraged.”

But while Bajans engage in that heated debate, whether on social media, VOB’s Down to Brasstacks call-in programme, or at a rum shop, there remains a matter of greater import than the route.

Whether the jump is on the ABC Highway or ends on the Mighty Grynner Highway will be of little to no consequence if there are no revellers masquerading.

The fact remains that the number of masqueraders taking part in Grand Kadooment continues to dwindle. This is one time that COVID-19 alone cannot be blamed for the poor turnout. The fact of the matter is that even in pre-pandemic times, there was a huge drop in masqueraders as well. So much so, that the Foreday Morning numbers had long surpassed the number of masqueraders at Grand Kadooment.

President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) Anthony Layne told Barbados TODAY that he would be in a better position to give his view on the festival after a scheduled “post mortem”.

We challenge Mr Layne to ensure that the fall-off in the number of masqueraders is high on the agenda. We urge him and his counterparts to concede that while COVID-19 did negatively impact on the numbers seen on Monday, something has to give.

The price of costumes continues to be a major sore point for would-be revellers. People want to be a part of the festivities but simply cannot afford to spend between $1 000 and $3 500 on costumes that fall apart before the day ends.

The gravitation towards Foreday Morning has more to do with cost than people running from the sun. The Foreday Morning collective seem to understand their clientele and what they need.

However, members of BAM must find innovative and creative ways to market their products. They must offer incentives and gimmicks that draw people to want to be a part of the grand climax. The feathers and beads costing a mortgage payment won’t cut it.

The scarce numbers seen Monday should be cause for concern for anyone who has a stake in Grand Kadooment. The focus has to be on collectively finding ways to address this falloff. It cannot be every man for himself.

BAM should be concerned with the fact that Powda had over 8 000 people, Tipsy over 11 000, Republic Bank Pandemonium over 20 000 and Grand Kadooment Day Sweet Lime almost double the Pandemonium 20 000; yet, what is designed to be the climax event cannot even muster 10 000 revellers on the road. It is mas! But where are the masses?

The debate about the route can rage on until next year this same time. The fact of the matter is that unless BAM finds a way to entice would-be revellers, Grand Kadooment will cease to be grand and one day we will head to either the ABC Highway or Mighty Grynner Highway to be spectators of nothing.