Sour note

A DAY OF SPECTACULAR entertainment at Bushy Park, St Philip, ended yesterday in confusion and controversy with hundreds of people jeering the winner of the Sweet Soca competition, TC.The crowd booed vociferously as soon as emcee Mac Fingall indicated that De Big Show’s TC had repeated last year’s win as Sweet Soca monarch. Earlier, she had turned in a sizzling rendition of Down De Road and appeared a clear winner, copping 450 points. Headliners’ Mikey [440.5] took second position while his tentmate Mr Dale finished third [433]. TC also took home $10 000.Blood set the stage ablaze with Foot On Fire, copping 444 points and deservedly taking the Party Monarch title. Edwin with Chrissening [429] and Soca Kartel (Blood and Mikey) with Whole Place Mash Up tied for second.Unlike the earlier derisive reaction to which a tearful TC was subjected, the crowd screamed their approval at Blood’s victory.The Battle Royale clash, slated to take place between Blood and TC for a car valued at $89 000 never materialised as TC declined to perform. That decision automatically gifted the vehicle to Blood. He also won $22 000 for his Party Monarch victory.‘Foolishness’Confusion reigned backstage with some performers describing the Battle Royale as “foolishness”, tantamount to one of the titlists being dethroned ten minutes after winning a crown. Some officials of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) tried unsuccessfully to convince TC to take part in the clash. Her management indicated that a statement would be issued today.Blood later invited her to join him on stage for a victory performance, and along with a number of those who had earlier competed, they performed his winning song before the waving, screaming crowd.The fans, estimated at about 15 000 by the NCF, were generally on their best behaviour with police reporting only one man being arrested for using insulting language. Senior Superintendent Graham Archer said 130 police officers were deployed at Bushy Park. A contingent from the Barbados Defence Force was also present, along with private security.Minister of Culture Steve Blackett told the DAILY NATION he was generally satisfied with the day’s proceedings.He said at the start of the Crop-Over season that he had paid a site visit to Bushy Park and thought then that it would have been a wonderful venue. He was not disappointed, and said the site would be considered in the future for the event.Noting it could cater to more people than the previous locations at East Coast, St Andrew and Farley Hill, St Peter, Blackett said a number of people had expressed their satisfaction with the new location. Several residents in the Bushy Park area gave the thumbs-up for the staging of the event in their community.