Curtain comes down on Crop Over 2017

This year’s Crop Over Festival ended in fine style for the thousands of revellers who took part in the Republic Bank Grand Kadooment Day.

Approximately 11 000 costumed-masqueraders in over 20 bands made their way from the National Stadium to the Spring Garden Highway during this all-day event which commenced after eight in the morning. Included in this number was the visiting band, Point d’Interrogation from Guadeloupe.

There were lots of vibrant, colourful and skillfully created costumes and dance moves on show on Monday. The Walk Holy Kadooment Band, the Republic Bank’s band and the Blue Box Cart were the first viewed by spectators seated at the stadium, the central judging point, though all three bands were not judged.

They were followed by Lucky Horseshoe Jump Promotions, which was judged. This band paid tribute to its late band designer, Renee Sheppard- Ratcliffe. She died suddenly last year on Kadooment Day shortly after leading the band across the stage and exiting the National Stadium.

The theme for the 2017 band was “Journey of a Dragonfly – A tribute to Renee Sheppard-Ratcliffe”. The different sections focused on different aspects of her life, character, things she loved and the work she did as a designer of both junior and senior bands.

Jump Promotions’ designer, Marlon Brewster told The Barbados Advocate “It was a fitting tribute. It was a lot of hard work. We now realise the type of designer, woman, mother and powerhouse Renee was for Crop Over, Kadooment, for Barbados and for all of us. We miss her, we love her.”

Fitting homage to the late band designer on the day was additionally paid by Ooutraje Festival Band. Band leader, Trevor Chase included a section in his band titled, “The Dragonfly” in her memory. Meanwhile, prior to going before the judges at the stadium, band leader, Mackie Holder, requested that a moment of silence be observed.

Some of the other bands crossing the stage at this venue were Wednesday 2000, Baje International, Aura Experience, Gwyneth Squires Band and Power X Four Next Generation. The latter band was the final group to appear before the judges.

The themes portrayed by designers celebrated this island’s economic currency, highlighted location in historic Bridgetown and paid tribute to cultural icons, such as calypsonian, Dr. Anthony “Mighty Gabby” Carter. The Betty West Kadooment Band, through its depictions also acknowledged the scores of regional and international visitors who come to these shores each year to be a part of the annual Crop Over Festival. (MG)