#BTEditorial – May this good news prevail. Well done, promoters, police, patrons

We must always be eager to share good news just as we often do the not so good.  At the start of the month, we had the unfortunate task of reporting about an ugly incident which threatened to mar the 2023 Crop Over season.

Ironically, the incident took place just hours after the National Cultural Foundation had staged a successful official opening event at Hayman’s, St Peter. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley had heralded the opening of Crop Over at the Digicel Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes.

Her words: “I now declare Crop Over 2023 open, ready for business, ready for enjoyment, ready for wukkin up.” After that, there were cheers from the crowd in agreement as everyone was looking forward to six weeks of merriment.

Sadly, hours later, a mob stampeded and invaded the popular Powda fete at Vaucluse Raceway, St Thomas.

Their intention was to get into the venue at any cost, even to life and limb. During the melee, someone was hospitalised and had to undergo surgery.

The act was condemned by the public, police and promoters of other events. The incident affected the staging of another popular J’ouvert event – Puff Of Colour – which was postponed.

But that type of behaviour was not the first time such had happened.

Back in 2018, the same Puff of Colour was stained by a similar incident, albeit after the event.

There was an infamous brawl that took place on the grounds of Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens after the event. A group of partygoers trespassed onto private property and engaged in lawless behavior, running through the cemetery while damaging headstones and graves sites.

After Powda, there was a more serious incident that ended with bloodshed and the police were called in at an event held at Kensington Oval. The mayhem spilled over to the nearby Esso gas station and Kensington Mall.

At the time, it seemed as though all was lost and we were on course for more of these incidents continually marring an otherwise great Crop Over season.

Thankfully, the police won’t have it. Swift decisive action was implemented. Promoters, patrons and would-be offenders all knew where the police stood based on the comments of Attorney General Dale Marshall and Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce.

And now, with less than two weeks left in the festival, we are in a position to report some good news.

Three major events held last weekend were incident-free. The crowds were large, but measures put in place by promoters and police worked well in restoring faith that we can party in a safe environment this Crop Over.

Last week, we scolded the promoters who refused to ensure their patrons safety. This week, we are pleased to join the police in praising the promoters of We Ting and the Tipsy Music Festival.

The Barbados Police Service was so heartened by the compliance and behaviour by the over 5 000 patrons at We Ting at Paragon, Christ Church, the 10 000 at Tipsy Beach Party at Copacabana, and the 15 000 at Tipsy All-White Party at the National Botanical Gardens, that it issued a statement which read, in part:

“No serious incidents were reported to us. The Barbados Police Service congratulates the outstanding behaviour exhibited by all patrons attending those events.

“We are also high in commendation for the various promoters of those events, all of whom complied with the advice of the Police in respect of security, traffic management, and general public discourse.

“It is testimony that we can promote large events well we can police them effectively and all patrons can come out enjoy themselves reassured that the future events will be free of serious incidents

Congrats to all concerned. We look forward to similar outcomes at the remainder of Crop Over activities on schedule.”

We got as much joy reporting this as the police probably had issuing the statement.

Plenty of events are planned from now until August 7, Grand Kadooment, the culmination of the festival. We hope that this statement from the police remains relevant to all events held, even those held after Kadooment Day.

May this positive narrative continue as Bajans, Bajan Yankees and tourists go out, patronise events, and enjoy the country’s largest national festival.

The festival that puts on display the best in Bajan talent, culture and heritage.

The festival that combines a range of Barbadian traditions, interpreted through various artforms, from culinary to the performing arts.

The festival that allows vendors, promoters, bandleaders, artistes, artisans and service providers to benefit greatly.

The festival that has now grown into a viable commercial product generating millions to the national economy over a three-month period.

The festival we all love and want to enjoy in a safe space. ]]>