This week’s BB is going to be served in smaller portions so you faithful readers find it easy reading. But take note, the issues in this column are not in any way SMALL.
Junior Monarch Venue Too Small!
Held at the Sherbourne Conference Centre this year, a change from last year's Dove Conference Centre, the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Semi-finals saw the venue packed almost beyond capacity with hundreds of family, friends and fans. So much so that emcee Carl "Alff" Padmore had to announce that the finals - held last Saturday – was going to be held in the one of the bigger rooms in the centre.
However, several patrons were turned away on Finals night as the show, even in the larger room was standing room only. Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Reverend Joseph Atherley, told the Daily Nation that the competition might have to move next year.
In the 8-12 category Aziza Li'l "Az Clarke came first while in the older age group the winner was 15-year old Rico "CoCo" Gaskin with "Mr Forgetful"
Kadooment Venue Too Small!
As reported here on islandevents The Barbados Association of Masqueraders believes that Kadooment has outgrown Spring Garden.
President of the Association, Roger Millar, said there's a need to spread the stalls over a wider area in order to avoid the congestion that could hamper any emergency effort
"Spring Garden is a lovely place but we need to look at how best we can do something about the overcrowding in case of emergency. My suggestion is to take it around the corner to Pelican Village, but we're open to other ideas."
He called for a look at themes encompassing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, pointing out that the Barbadian themes had become overworked and were being rotated.
There was talk of moving the festival’s end a few year’s back, but so far no new site has been located.
Bikinis at Wet Fete Too Small??
Thousands turned out for the annual Cockspur Caribbean Wet Fete this Sunday. Featuring several local artistes, Bunji Garlin and top Dj’s it was a sea of colour at a new venue – the Bay Street Car Park.
The local call-in programmes heard some arguments raised that the event encourages lawlessness with far too “skimpy” swim-suits on the ladies. The HIV? AIDS Commission had noted two years previously that the party atmosphere and the alcohol creates a sexually charged atmosphere.
However, it was not hormones that rose on Sunday, but tempers after bottle throwing resulted from the show ending early.
While the show had been publicised for a 10 p.m. finish, the Royal Barbados Police Force brought the fete to a halt an hour early, to which some patrons responded by throwing bottles and cups into the air, forcing persons in the VIP section to scamper for cover.
The early end may have occurred due to the non-appearance of the much publicised Idonia from Jamaica who failed to appear. Prior to the end the show saw very little violence from the large crowd.
Weekly Wrap-Up
The Crop over Visual Arts Exhibition opened this week. The Campus Boyz are still without a new venue for their weekly parties after a shooting and overcrowding resulted in the loss of the Barbados Museum as a venue, Destra Garcia is confirmed for this weekend’s “Soca on De Hill event,” while Machel Montano is set to headline Baje International’s “Collision” party on Friday.