These cane cutters paid tribute to the sugar industry which is at the core of the Crop Over Festival.
Fun in the sun
7/29/2012
By Renice Bostic
THE children had their turn to play mas’ and enjoy the Crop Over season at The National Stadium during yesterday’s staging of Junior Kadooment.
Waterford,St. Michael erupted in a sea of colour as children as young as one year old got the opportunity to take centre stage in creative and innovative costumes. Some even suggested they might have shown up the adult Kadooment bands.
The atmosphere became charged with excitement when the first band got ready to cross the stage just before 10 a.m. Quimby’s Explosion started the ball rolling with their presentation of ‘In Our Waters’ which was based on environmental protection.
This band consisted of a section called ‘The Soca Pirates’ which was led by ‘Sam Lord’. The children wore blue pants, red tops with black waist coats symbolic of the dark waters travelled as they follow Queen Calypso.
From the sea, it got a little crazy with ‘Under The Big Top’ from The St. Gabriel’s School, led by Renee Radcliff. The Marching Band section was the first to cross the stage decked out in a red, gold and white band costume with hand pieces representing instruments. It was a kaleidoscope of colour when the lion tamers, cotton candy section, fortune tellers and clowns came out and they were joined by local celebrity clown, Annie The Clown.
It was good to see many schools returning to this day of excitement as they bring a high level of creativity from the communities that only they can grasp. ‘Mekkin Sport In Bim’ presented by Deacon’s Primary was quite impressive as they took the audience through various sporting activities from horse racing with a huge Gold Cup costume, clock tower and pink costumes for the little ones, cricket costumes in the ‘Beating Ball’ section and even represented draughts with Ronald ‘Suki’ King.
As was expected, veteran band leader Betty West did not disappoint with her presentation of ‘The Global Village’. The band consisted of Amerindians with the King of the Band wearing a large costume with drums surrounding him, Africans, Indians, South Americans and a Chinese section which came along with the traditional Chinese dragon.
St. Stephens Primary brought creativity and a fun element to the stadium with ‘It Happen in Buhbados Fuh True’. From the Merry Men to The Nut Sellers they showed all the reasons why Barbados is paradise. The Queen of The Band wore ‘Beautiful Barbados’ adorned with palm trees, blue representing the ocean and the sun.
Also on parade was Gweneth Squires’ ‘Fruits A Plenty’ with oversized fruits leading each section. Mango Tango led on the sea grapes, golden apples, bananas and more. The Queen of the Band left persons craving fruits with her huge fruit basket of exotic fruits. They looked real, colourful and of course the creativity was of a high standard.
Bands from Half Moon Fort Primary and Westbury Primary were also on parade. Even though there were just a few persons in the stands at The National Stadium, the children still had a grand time.
