Home  News Regional News Curtain comes down
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Sunday, 10 August 2008 |
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Crop Over 2008 climaxed in Barbados on Monday, with police reporting no major incidents for the course of the month-long event and organizers lauding it as a success.
From early morning, thousands of revelers jumping in 25 bands took to the streets for the final last lap jam, Grand Kadooment. It was the first time that two routes were used, with both processions converging on the island’s Spring Garden Highway.
Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Station Sergeant Anthony Depeiza, said lawmen were satisfied with the level of cooperation exhibited by revelers in the bands as well as onlookers. He said the behavior was a general reflection of what had taken place during the festival organized by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF).
“We are satisfied that we generally had a very good Crop Over and we haven't had any major incidents reported throughout the entire season," the police PRO said.
Corporate Communications Specialist at the NCF, Wayne Simmons said Monday’s activity was a success, despite complaints from some bands about the decision to have two routes this year. Some of the revelers complained that they had to wait too long at the merging point before proceeding along the route.
NCF Chairman Kenneth Knight said he believed the entire festival “has been a grand success”.
Meanwhile, Minister of Community Development and Culture, Steve Blackett, also said he was happy with the outcome, adding that it was not significant whether a profit was realized since, according to him, “the NCF’s role is developmental”.
“This festival is about the people and if people are not happy we have to look at the areas that displease them,” he told the Nation newspaper.
Barbadian artistes drew large crowds to numerous events this season, but Trinidadian soca star Machel Montano drew a massive following at one of the major events this season – Cohobblopot on Sunday night.
His participation drew complaints from some quarters, but Blackett insisted that Barbados was part of a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME) and had to operate on a reciprocal basis.
“Our entertainers participate in neighboring festivals and they are welcomed,” he said.
As the curtain came down on the 2008 Crop Over season, Edwin Yearwood, lead singer of popular band Krosfyah, walked away with the Tune of the Crop title – the prize for the song most played along the Kadooment route – with his song, ‘Handle Yah Business’.
His victory came just a few days after copping the People’s Monarch title on Thursday with another Crop Over hit, ‘Nah Missing Me’.
Some of the band leaders also walked away with some rewards for their hard work, with veteran designer, Betty West copping the Large Band of the Year. She also won the Best Band prize for her CSME concept, Under the Umbrella at the Junior Kadooment the previous week.
The other big winner was another experienced designer, Gwyneth Squires, who took Festival Designer of the Year.
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