NCF explains reasons for changes
THE NATIONAL CULTURAL FOUNDATION (NCF) is defending changes to this year’s Crop Over Festival.
One of them is the revised Pan Pun De Sand which has caused some stir. It was previously free, but now adults will have to pay $20 to attend.
NCF chief executive officer (CEO) Carol Roberts-Reifer said the new move was made to help keep the event afloat.
“There had to come a time when we could no longer afford to do it as a free event. The economies of scale just wouldn’t allow it. It’s an event that calls for a huge amount of capital injection and when we looked at our numbers, in order to keep it, you had to come to some sort of compromise.
“The good thing about the price is that family will pay $20 per adult, but children under 16 are free . . . . That was the best compromise we could strike at this time. We also felt, when it comes to that event, it needed a shake-up in terms of its content,” she explained.
The event will feature regional acts as well as over 70 local pannists from secondary schools.
The CEO was speaking at First Citizens Bank on Broad Street yesterday at the press event for the upcoming Crop Over launch which will be held under the theme Journey To The Last Cane.
Some of the other changes include the one-song requirement for the Pic-O-De-Crop,
the revised Soca Monarch competition, and the relocation of the launch to Speightstown, St Peter, from
King George V Memorial Park,
St Philip. Despite economics, Roberts-Reifer said the event would still be filled with creativity.
“Cost should not prevent anyone from putting [their] best creative foot forward; cost is just a reality. You can afford to do it this way, or you can’t. Once you have established that, your next best question should be to do it where it is still to scale, impactful and meaningful,”she added.
Meanwhile, CEO of First Citizens Bank, Carole Eleuthere-JnMarie, said the bank was pleased to partner with the NCF, as it had been doing since 2011.
“Festivals of culture and history play a pivotal role in nation-building and in bringing people together from various walks of life, religion, ethnicity, economic and social backgrounds. We at First Citizens truly believe that through our support of culture and events such as Crop Over, we are making a positive contribution,” Eleuthere-JnMarie said.
The official launch will be held on June 8 in Speightstown. A parade will start at Alexandra School featuring depictions of Africa, Europe, As is customary, the outstanding workers in the sugar industry will be honoured. There will also be a folk concert, featuring Mighty Gabby, TC, MRBLOOD, followed by a sunset concert with Party Monarch Mikey and Sweet Soca Monarch Lil Rick. ( TG) NATIONAL CULTURAL FOUNDATION chief executive officer Carol Roberts-Reifer (third left) accepting the sponsorship cheque from CEO of First Citizens Bank, Carole Eleuthere-JnMarie (fourth left). Looking on (from left) are the bank’s head of operations Walwyn Williams, event producer Ayesha Gibson-Gill, and other NCF representatives Alicia Payne/ Hurley and Stacia Bryan.
MOVING TO THE sweet sounds of Pompasette Tuk Band.
PERFORMERS created a spectacle on Broad Street yesterday morning.
(Pictures by Lennox Devonish.)
Mother Sally, shaggy bears and other local characters.
There will also be a festival fair Speightstown Playing Field, where will be clusters of culture including party, rum shop, ital station, artisans a children’s corner.
DANCERS portraying agricultural workers during the show.
other at the where there including a tea artisans and
