Let’s reason, says Blackett

THE FINAL CURTAIN has not long been drawn on this year’s Crop-Over festival, but Minister of Community Development and Culture Steve Blackett is already asking stakeholders to refrain from taking any differences for 2011 into the public domain.Speaking at the Crop-Over awards ceremony at the Grande Salle last Saturday night, Blackett reminded stakeholders that they were working towards a similar goal.“This festival is not about us and them. We are all in this together. If issues arise that collide with our understanding of a particular decided arrangement, let us not resort to the airwaves or the print media with our complaints and uncertainties. Instead, let us find an amicable avenue of common ground to resolve these irritants to the satisfaction of all of us. After all, this is our festival,” he said.The minister was also full of praise for the staff of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), who are charged with the execution of the festival, and face much in fulfilling their tasks.“I sit at my desk or drive along in my car and hear the many negative comments being spewed from the mouths of the armchair critics and know-it-alls in this country. Seldom during the season do you hear a single word of encouragement for these tireless and dedicated professionals found within the walls of the Foundation.“They are few in this island that could equal the wonderful quality of your work, but certainly none could surpass the stellar productions that emanate from your well-oiled machinery,” he stated.In highlighting some of the elements of the calendar that made for a successful and “truly varied festival”, the minister said Crop-Over was definitely more than a carnival.“But we have no intention of resting on our laurels; there is no place for complacency. If a festival is to be sustained, if it is to survive and not lose its appeal, then it must grow, it must evolve, in response to the requirements of the society out of which it springs,” he said.Blackett said the quality could be nothing less than the highest when Barbados’ culture was taken to the world. “If we are to encourage and to promote positive cultural development in Barbados, the same applies. We cannot sit idly by and shrug our shoulders helplessly when negative and destructive elements creep into our culture. “True, it is not likely that a perfect culture exists anywhere except in mythical Utopia, but we have to make sure that we highlight and encourage the positive elements, and that we speak out against the negative ones,” he suggested.During his opening remarks, NCF chairman Ken Knight said that in reflecting on Crop-Over 2010, it should be realised that Barbados was producing something special.“It is incumbent upon all of us, to continue to play our part in making every aspect of Crop-Over successful. The National Cultural Foundation will keep on working with the various stakeholders to produce a world-class festival and to preserve all aspects of Barbadian culture,” Knight stated.The winners in Junior and Grand Kadooment, as well as those receiving special prizes in the Scotiabank Junior Monarch and the Banks/Lime Pic-O-De-Crop and Tune-Of-The-Crop champ Blood were presented with their trophies and cheques.After the formalities, awardees, dignitaries and guests were treated to refreshments and live performances from Junior Monarch Myles-Z and Li’l Az and Party Monarch, Soca Royale and Road March king Blood.