Bank Hall a hive of activity on Grand Kadooment Day

Bank Hall was a hive of activity on Grand Kadooment Day, as hundreds of Barbadians and visitors to the island waited in the broiling sun to watch the bands on Kadooment Day.

By approximately 11am, the first four bands had already made their way past Bank Hall, but it would take a long time for the other bands to follow.

In fact, that was one of the major peeves of the crowd, who bemoaned the lengthy gaps between bands, which many said killed the Crop Over vibe. Many also queried the constant playing of Trinidadian music and Crop Overmusic from previous years during the jump.

With lots of walls and elevated spaces in the area, persons could be seen at every available vantage point, some families making a day of it with packed lunches and drinks. Others could be seen buying food from vendors, ackees, water and of course sno-cones.

One of the interesting presentations was the visiting group from Guadaloupe whose afrocentric rhythms, produced by drums and other instruments, kept the crowd moving. Their performance however was interrupted when a by-stander collapsed on the side of the road, prompting members to rush to his assistance. Seemingly dehydrated, the man was soon revived and transported to receive further medical attention.

By 4 pm, the final band which crossed the National Stadium, Power X 4 Next Generation was making its way past Bank Hall. Shortly afterwards, a heavy police presence was seen on the road with officers, including members of the Mounted Branch, ensuring a path was cleared for the thousands of revellers in the band, signalling the end to the 2017 Grand Kadooment Jump Up. (JH)