Barbados Beat
Barbados Beat- Issue#34
By Khalil Goodman
Jul 31, 2007, 9:17

Crop Over Horror!

This year's Crop over celebrations have been marred by a major tragedy as 6 people died and 37 more were injured in a bus crash mere minutes away from Sunday's annual East Coast Calypso Bowl party.

The six perished in a single vehicular accident, while 37 others were injured - ten of them critical and hospitalised.

The accident occurred at Joe's River, St Joseph just after 11 a.m. when a coach, BT4, belonging to the Barbados Transport Co-Operative Society, slammed into a wall.

The horrific irony is that the coach contained staff members and friends of companies that were participating in an all-inclusive package given by titled sponsors Mount Gay. Five people died on the spot while a sixth died on the way to the hospital.

Attorney-General Dale Marshall, who is also MP for St Joseph where the accident took place, described the incident as "a tragedy of enormous proportions for all Barbadians".

All emergency services were pressed into service throughout the day, and the Department of Emergency Services rolled out a plan, which it had put in place for the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital also instituted its mass casualty programme which ensured that a number of people were treated on location, while emergency vehicles from the Barbados Defence Force, Barbados Red Cross and the Ambulance Service rushed the victims to the hospital.

NCF says, "The Show Must Go on."

The tragic accident at Joe's River, St Joseph, almost forced the cancellation of the Mount Gay/Cable & Wireless Party Monarch competition held at the Calypso Bowl at the Ermie Bourne Highway.

However, with 15,000 people already at the on the East Coast, Chief executive officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Ian Estwick, said that they decided against calling it off following discussions with police.

Speaking at a press conference later in the evening the CEO was very emotional Estwick, as his godson Adrian Franklin was one of the fatalities. However, he told the media that it would have been more dangerous trying to get the thousands out of the venue and evacuate the injured from the accident. This is because entry into the East Coast was restricted as police and emergency vehicles continued their work.

Li'l Rick Secures 4th Party Monarch Win

Despite Sunday's tragedy several thousand people still wanted to see who would win this year's Mount Gay/Cable and Wireless Party Monarch.

The numbers were less than half of last year's, but there was a full menu of musical fare from some of the more popular soca acts of the 2007 Crop-Over season. At the end of the day Li'l Rick aka Hypa Dawg walked away with his fourth title and $22 00."

A mere three points separated Li'l Rick from his closest competition but it was more than enough to cement his win as the 2007 Mount Gay Cable and Wireless Party Monarch.

Already very much a people's favourite with his song "Can't Wait," Rick was the one to beat at this year's competition. However, only his Headliners tentmate Mr Dale got close enough.

Starting his performance sitting atop a throne carried by a train of stiltmen Li'l Rick was costumed in blue and yellow and wearing a crown. And like the soca king he was later crowned the now four-time Party Monarch winner was able command the thousands who jumped, waved and sang along with him.

Predictably, Li'l Rick's tentmate Mr Dale came second, followed by Khiomal, Blood and Tarah.

Also giving impressive presentations were Callender Girl, Basil, Apache, Donnella, Spin Pooch Ink, Mikey, Lorenzo, Barry Chandler and Bruce Wayne. Also competing were Kid Site, Peter Ram, Gregory Ayuen, Adrian Clarke and Timmy. Shurwayne Winchester and the Asylum Band were the featured guest performers.

Weekly Wrap-Up

Not much to add this week except that this year's Pic-O-De-Crop Kaiso Monarch will be picked this Friday.