CROP OVER 2022 OFFICIALLY BEGINS

THE 2022 Crop Over Festival has officially started.
After a two-year hiatus due the COVID-19 pandemic, locals and visitors got an opportunity on Saturday to expe- rience the official start of Barbados’ sweetest summer festival.
On this occasion, the Festival’s Opening Ceremony and the Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes occurred at the Portvale Sugar Factory. It was held under the theme, ‘Sugar Mek It Sweet!’ and activities at this St. James location got going from two in the afternoon.
One of the main highlights of the official launch was a parade. The procession for this started from the historic Rock
Hall Freedom Village in Rock Hall, St. Thomas and concluded in the Factory yard.
The parade was divided into sections. It was led off by members of the Sons of God Apostolic Spiritual Baptist Church, who later during the launch played a key role in blessing the final canes of this year’s sugarcane harvest. They also prayed for God’s blessing on the entire Festival and the events to come.
Cultural characters such the Muddah Sally, shaggy bears and stilt men were also featured in the parade. It additionally included a stick licking demonstration.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in her address before declaring this year’s Festival open, urged the public to enjoy
themselves but to do so safely. She also encouraged persons to look out for each other and assist those in need.
“Today is not a day for a lot of long talk. Today is a day to give thanks and for us to be able to recognise that the next four to six weeks, we need to go about, enjoy ourselves, be careful but be safe and to do what you can to take care of the others around you. I say that not only because of COVID, but also because we need everybody to look out for each other in these times. If you can buy a drink for a brother or a sister that you know is not working, do that. If you can carry somebody in your car instead of driving two cars, do that because these are difficult times but together, we shall make it.”

Meanwhile in her remarks, Chairman of the Board of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Dr. Jasmine Babb explained why the “tradition of the Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes is of great impor- tance.”
“Through our cultural heritage, the delivery of the last canes on the plantation or the factory yard became a celebration. It was also a time of camaraderie and togetherness for our ancestors. This event, through highlights, celebrates the ceremonial delivery of the last canes and is directly connected to who we are, how we celebrate and identify as a people.”
She also shared that the NCF opted to honour four indi- viduals this year for their outstanding work in the sugar in- dustry. This is a break from the tradition of solely recognising two persons. Dr. Babb said the NCF “thought it necessary to expand this category to allow more persons who work in the industry to be highlighted and honoured during the Festival”.
The four honourees were: Irwin Archer, David Cumberbatch, Cordelia Applewhite and Kerriann Maynard Browne.
A number of Crop Over stalwarts were also awarded during Saturday’s ceremony. Among the recipients was comedian Trevor Eastmond, musician, John Roett and en- tertainer, Macdonald “Mac” Fingall.