Key stakeholders meet with NCF

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) met with the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) and independent bandleaders on Thursday, August 17th to review the 2023 Crop Over Festival and commence discussions on Crop Over 2024.

The meeting, held at the NCF’s West Terrace, St James, headquarters, started at 10 a.m. and ended just after 3 p.m.

All parties present were given the opportunity to critique Junior and Grand Kadooment, as well as offer initial recommendations on the way forward.

It was agreed that the custom of reaching consensus on all major decisions would continue.

Several key aspects were discussed including:

• The logistics and set up of 2023 Junior Kadooment and Grand Kadooment;
• Security arrangements and policing of bands;
• Sunset legislation in 2024;
• Opportunities for training and development in junior and adult masquerade;
• Continuation and expansion of the School’s Junior Masquerade Project;
• Greater prominence of local music played by music trucks on the route on Grand Kadooment Day.
• Identifying the cause of the growth in registered masqueraders this year with a view of sustaining and increasing those numbers next year;
• Analysing & catering to the steadily increasing International audience patronising Grand Kadooment.

After the meeting NCF’s CEO Carol Roberts who chaired the meeting said: “The NCF is very pleased with the outcome of its initial meeting with the bandleaders today. I have every confidence that, together we can address the issues arising this year and move apace to crafting an improved event for all categories of participant next year. Indeed, we have met this week with other stakeholder groups in order to complete the planning and approval processes and launch Crop Over 2024 as early as reasonably possible”.

The CEO further emphasised the need for “all dialogue and recommendations to be conducted in a spirit of goodwill, with the primary focus being the wellbeing and sustainability of this festival of ours”.

President of BAM, Jason Thompson, said his association was pleased with the outcome of the meeting.

“BAM had the opportunity to express many of the grievances of its members with the NCF surrounding the logistical and communication issues surrounding crop over 2023. The outcome of the meeting was pleasing and most definitely geared in the right direction of developing an outstanding 2024 Crop Over season.

“We feel assured that continuous meetings of this nature will result in creating memorable experiences for all stakeholders within the Sweetest summer festival,” said Thompson who is bandleader of Hijack.

When asked to give his take on the meeting independent bandleader Kevin Small said: “I am extremely satisfied with the way in which the meeting was conducted. We were all given a chance to speak frankly about the issues that affected us at Junior Kadooment and on Grand Kadooment Day.

The bandleader of Fifth Element Mas added: “There was a high level of engagement and interaction as we posited our ideas. There was no monopoly on speaking as we were all encouraged to participate. Therefore, after an extensive postmortem and clear lines of communication, established by the NCF, I am committed to doing my part in assisting in the fair and transparent planning of masquerade for Crop Over over 2024.”

A follow-up meeting will be held in September.

Present at the meeting:

The NCF team headed by CEO Carol Roberts.

Jason Thompson – Hijack Inc (BAM)

Neil Stanley – Royalty (Independent)

Kevin Small – Fifth Element Mas (Independent)

Brian Corbin – Wednesday 2000 Band (BAM)

Richild Boyce – National Library Service (Independent)

Sonia Outram – Romp International (BAM)

Shenee Knight – Zulu International (BAM)

(PR)