Calypso tents ready to pitch for Crop Over

Tent managers are looking forward to the return of the Pic-O-De-Crop Competition during the upcoming Crop Over celebrations, although some have raised questions about the COVID-19 protocols that will be in place for events during the summer festival.

The highly anticipated competition will feature among events during the Crop Over Festival which is set to resume in July after a two-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 Pic-O-De-Crop Competition will have a one-song format, with the winner getting $100 000 or an electric vehicle.

Reacting to the news of the contest’s return, House of Soca tent manager Sharon Carew-White said she was excited and ready to get back out.

“The members are all ready and former Junior Monarch Quon told me that he is raring and ready to go. I spoke to Peter Ram as well and they are all excited.

“The tents are the preliminary before the whole festival in terms of the Pic-O-De-Crop and it is nice to know that the social commentators can get out there. There are so many topics to speak about, there are so many things we can sing about to keep you at the edge of your seat. We are ready and excited,” she said.

Juliana Julie Sealy of Shining Stars Calypso Tent, which was pitched in 2019 for the first time, described the return of the calypso competition as “good medicine for the soul”.

“I missed it for the last two years and I welcome it back with open arms,” she said. Sealy, who performs double duty as tent manager and performer, said her biggest concern is the COVID-19 protocols and regulations.

For Crop Over events – other than Grand Kadooment and Foreday Morning for which mandatory testing will be required – patrons and performers must either be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test taken 24 hours prior to the event. All caterers and hospitality staff at events must be both vaccinated and present a negative rapid test as an added layer of security.

“It seems as though there are two sets of rules,” Sealy said. “The tent life is not like a soca fete, it is like a church service. When you go to church you wear your mask, get sanitised, sit down, and with tent that is the same thing – you get sanitised, sit down, enjoy the show and leave. I believe these protocols need to be relaxed for persons who want to come out and enjoy themselves.”

Tent manager of Cave Shepherd All Stars Eleanor Rice-Watkins said she found the announcement about the Pic-O-De-Crop Competition had come a bit late.

However, she said she was still looking forward to showtime. Rice-Watkins also expressed concern about the difference in COVID-19 protocols for the entertainment sector when compared to others.

“People get into buses and travel in planes and you don’t know the status of those who are next to you. What is happening is a bit confusing. My biggest concern is that all over Barbados people are allowed to do what they want to do. I think with the entertainment sector we are being hard done by. It is a lot of red tape but you are seeing a different pattern all over the place. What is it about entertainment?” she asked.

Reigning Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch William Classic Waithe said he was gearing up for competition, after the COVID-19 break gave him a chance to finetune his songs and work at honing his craft.

“I used the time effectively to develop my songs and get them even better. The advantage of it is that it provided a lot more time as I was able to work on my material more. I hope that more artists were able to do the same thing,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“Being that there wasn’t a lot of activity, it gave me the chance to really take advantage of the time factor and it was a great asset.”

Classic said his work this year will not be based on the pandemic as he is COVID-19 fatigued.

“I am not even going there. I won’t be dealing with COVID-19 at all but I am a lot more excited about what I have this year than [my winning One Song in 2019]. I am very excited and looking forward to Crop Over this year,” he said.

Adding that he was glad the competition was happening in person, he said: “There were thousands of people at cricket and Pic-O-De-Crop doesn’t normally pull that amount. I think we can space out our crowds and still have a good time. I’m not interested in any virtual approach. Calypso is people-centred and I am looking forward to a live event.” (MR)