Security measures for Crop Over 2024 are being intensified as the island faces a rise in violent incidents, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for culture has announced.
Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight on Friday emphasised that safety remains a “primary focus” as the festival enters the final weeks of its 50th anniversary.
She revealed that additional talks had taken place with security services to boost personnel at key events.
“We’ve been working very closely with The Barbados Police Service, as well as the Barbados Defence Force to make sure that we are going to have full presence on the road for Kadooment,” she said. “That is something that we have been very careful [about] in order to assure, and all of our events, sometimes you might not see them, there has been an outpouring of security.”
The minister stressed: “We are taking it very seriously.”
Senator Munro-Knight was keen to point out that Crop Over events have thus far been incident-free. But she called on citizens to “take some responsibility for our behaviour, and the extent that we are going to allow particular elements to be disruptive”.
There will be an increased number of officers on the road for Grand Kadooment.
The minister also hinted at special plans for the Kiddies Kadooment on Saturday, which will incorporate the midday five-minute pause for peace called by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
“They can expect something extra special, I am not going to say it now, but there will be an extra special something that is going to be happening during Kiddies Kadooment again to speak to the young people that will be on the parade,” she said.
Mottley’s call for the symbolic pause for silent reflection and prayer is in response to the reported rise in violent acts, with the 27 homicides so far this year already surpassing last year’s total of 19.
“That five minutes of your time on Saturday is you standing up and sending a message, and saying clearly that you are ready to stand up as a Barbadian for this nation, and those elements within the society that seek to destroy it that we would not allow it,” Senator Munro-Knight declared.
She continued: “Five minutes is what we are asking for; five minutes to take back this country, five minutes to reflect on the Barbadian values that have built this nation, five minutes for us to remember that these fields and hills belong to us.”
Senator Munroe-Knight made her remarks at the unveiling of a monument to commemorate stalwarts from the Bayland. It was organised by the Office of Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement in the Prime Minister’s Office.
