Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Republic Bank, Anthony Clerk presenting the cheque in the sum of $85 000 to Manager Administration with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Wayne Webster. Also pictured are Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager at Republic Bank Barbados, Deborah Stoute, Republic Bank Grand Kadooment’s Producer, Adisa “Aja” Andwele and General Manager of Retail Banking at Republic Bank, Sharon Zephirin.
Interest in Crop Over continues to grow
Thirty bands have registered to be a part of this year’s Republic Bank Grand Kadooment.
Producer of the street jam, which is slated for August 6, Adisa “Aja” Andwele made the disclosure yesterday. He credited the Republic Bank’s investment in the final event of the Crop Over season for the continued interest being shown by band leaders.
“I think it has a lot to do with the fact that when Republic Bank came on board there was some increase in prize money. I know the bands would like a lot more…, but the thing is Republic Bank has made a difference and I think that it is that difference that we are seeing with the registration hovering in the upper 20s.”
Thirty bands are registered currently, however, this reflects a decline given that during the 2017 launch it was announced that 33 bands were then registered.
Andwele spoke during yesterday’s official launch of the event at Republic Bank’s Broad Street location. The launch was followed by a performance in the street and a mini-kadoo by persons in costumes from there to the Bank’s Fairchild Street branch.
Also speaking during the launch, Manager Administration with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Wayne Webster highlighted the importance of Grand Kadooment to Barbados’ commercial and cultural heritage.
Sharing similar statistics to those given last year, he reminded those present that within the last four years there has been a rise in bands registering.
“The analysis of the registration over the last few years, from 2014 to 2017 in particular, we would have seen a slight increase year on from 24 to some 33 bands registering representing a total increase of some 37.5 per cent the number of bands over the said period. This also equated to an approximate 43 per cent increase in revellers over the said period moving from some 9 470 to 13 545.”
He added that last year was “the highest registration numbers recorded perhaps in the last 15 years and an in-depth analysis of this history revealed that there are a number of returning bands, some with over 35 years of commitment, others with 25, 15 and ten and yet we still have new ones entering the line-up every year”.