To Cut Or Not To Cut
The National Cultural foundation recently made the proclamation that they will be doing some major cutting for Crop Over, my focus is not what will be cut but more what they will NOT cut.
For some time now our Crop Over has been characterised by regional acts being brought in to lord over the climax of our festival since NCF does not believe in the capabilities of Barbadian acts.
For the last two years thousands of u.s dollars have been paid to regional and international acts to headline Cohobblopot, so I wait to see what will happen this year under these new budgetary restrictions.
Cavalcades for instance we know will be affected as that is a free event design to “jump start” Crop Over and highlight established and upcoming Bajan calypso acts.
Chances are the performer’s fees will be cut and probably the amount of these events themselves might be reduced. So Bajans who look forward to partying for free will have to brace themselves for changes.
Next up who have to worry are the calypso tents, for some years now there has been a line of thought that government should not be subsidizing the tents.
Even under better economic conditions this funding has been questioned, from last year the cultural authorities had made statements which seem to indicate tent funding might be coming to an end.
So as Crop Over fast approaches we wait to see how the budget cuts will affect our national festival, which by the way generates millions of dollars in foreign exchange for the country.
So by instigating drastic budget cuts which affect the quality of events, NCF could end up shooting themselves in the foot.
So will it be the local Bajan cultural industries which face the cuts while big money is paid to outside performers, let we wait and see…
If during the reading of this blog there is any thing I might have written which might have incensed or offended you, GET OVER IT! There are many things I read and hear in the media on a daily basis that I don't like either. SO DEAL WITH IT! You are welcome to leave your comments though. Make sure and come back yuh hear !!!...
February 24th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
heres an interesting comment Dwayne put on facebook in response to this post
The NCF should first cut out the Ossie Moore joke of Andy John ( Vincy), Signal ( Trini) and David Jordan (Bajan) who will be running our Crop over Festival….. and they should cut out treating the regional acts better than the locals and treat everyone on the same level… i would have the pain and the treatment this year cause i graceful will be out of it…. And the NCF has to cut out stealing peoples Ideas these are the things they need to cut out and the wastage of government funding. I was in trinidad and aint see like in the pass with The Follow Me to Crop Over promotion i was at the major fetes and saw a large Barbados crew and posters, tee shirts etc being given away even trips to Barbados was given away this year I aint see nothing all i saw was something at Soca Monarch thats all Why them wasting the Government funding sending the Minister and Board Members to Carnival to do nothing, nothing at all and not a promotion of Crop Over nor Barbados how sad and then the talking about cutting they should cut out that c**t.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Does anyone remember the Congaline Carnival? After the NCF took over this event it proceeded with no sense of direction until they decided it was best to get rid of it altogether – That’s where I see Crop Over headed as well if they aren’t careful.