BEADS AND FEATHERS are fine for those who want them; just be mindful of the nudity.
“I don’t really believe in it,” bandleader of 23 years Betty West told WEEKEND BUZZ.
“Young people will come different and if they want the feathers. . . [but] I think certain parts of a woman should be covered. Most of the costumes are on the head and little things on the feet, and the important thing that is supposed to be covered is exposed.”
She hoped that Crop Over would not become a “swarm of beads and feathers” or carbon copies of Trinidad and Tobago carnival, adding that creativity seemed to have taken a back seat to making money.
“Just Gwyneth [Squires], Trevor [Chase] and myself who are into the creative [side]. . . It is all about making money. I can’t knock it. It seems like the young people are getting the money, because these bands are sold out.”
“Every man to their own liking and I am not one for knocking people, I just focus on doing my best and getting better, but I wish more people would try to be creative and come into the competition.”
She asserted that the creativity in the festival could be generated through costume-making modules in Barbados Community College programmes as well as in workshops.
(LW)
