Barbados Beat
Barbados Beat-Issue#38
By Khalil Goodman
Sep 25, 2007, 6:21

NCF Head clears air on "Loss" of Crop Over

3 weeks ago Prime Minister Owen Arthur told a meeting of stakeholders dealing with Crop-Over that 2007 was the last time the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) would be responsible for the island's premier festival.

Prime Minister Arthur stated the time had come for the NCF's roles as developmental agency and sponsor of cultural events such as Crop-Over to be separated.

To that end, the much-talked about public/private sector organisation, which was first mentioned about four years ago, is expected to become operational and presumably will take over Crop-Over and the other festivals.

Since then the "call-in" programmes and other public forums have been rife with speculation over how NCF will function without the big money earner and how the proposed new entity will function.

There is still no word on the specifics of how the new Government entity will produce Crop-Over. However, the CEO of the NCF Ian Estwick has sought to the air on what his organisation will do.

Describing some public comments as "disappointing", Estwick said the NCF team was always working on the many programmes it offered at the school and community levels.

"Crop-Over or not, at the Foundation, we are steadily engaged in activity that keeps us with our hands to the plough," he said. "The respite that we will eventually be given from Crop-Over simply means that we will be able to focus even more on cultural development programming that will feed into NIFCA and the said Crop-Over and enrich the quality of both stellar events."

Estwick was speaking at the official launch of the National Independence Festival Of Creative Arts (NIFCA).

Miss and Mr Barbados 2007

Talent, beauty, brains and charm were some of the unforgettable elements that patrons witnessed at the Mr. and Miss Barbados World 2007 competition last Saturday night. In the end Natalie Griffith a 17-year old Student and Fabian Bartlett a young Banker won the top places.

Griffith won Miss Photogenic and Miss Beauty with a Purpose, based on her community work with an HIV/ AIDS project. Bartlett excelled in several categories. He won Best Talent, People's Choice and Best Swimwear.

2nd placed were Emerald Forde and Karla Yearwood.

Forde also Mr. Beauty with a Purpose for his work with the hearing impaired. Third place winner Akil Ifill won Mr. Fitness and was voted by his fellow contestants as Mr. Congeniality. Shakeira White who also came third took the Miss Fitness title.

People's Choice also went to Taleah Chandler who amassed more than 2000 votes via Internet voting.

Another crowd favourite Albert Lee also made it to the top four and won Mr. Photogenic. Soca and Reggae singer Feloshade Ayanna John won "Best Talent" for the ladies.

Rock singer releases "Beautiful Surprise"

Phillip Scantlebury has created a niche for himself in Barbados. In his decade as an artiste he has become one of Barbados' leading alternative rock vocalists. A unique songwriter, performer and guitarist, the singer who now leads the band "Masala" is the newest addition to Pyramid Entertainment Management Incorporated.

This means that Phillip has joined the some management team that represents local heavy hitters Lil Rick, Peter Ram, Biggie Irie to name a few.

Now Pyramid, headed by Entertainment lawyer Santia Bradshaw has taken the step to form a music label as well.

Pyramid Music Group will be launching next month and a music video to Phillip's new single is the fourth to be released by the label. The new single "Beautiful Surprise," is an alterna-pop ballad and started playing on all the major radio stations this week,

Shot on location in Barbados by Stuart Hall of Creative Junction. The video features local singing neophyte Paige Banfield. Bradshaw says that the video should be on MTV Tempo shortly and plans for a video to Masala's song "Never Leave Your Side."

Weekly wrap-up

Artist and neophyte film maker Wayne Cesaire continues to work on his film 'Waiting for Keith," The time for submissions for the 2008 Barbados Music Awards are to start soon and the Casting calls for the Miss Barbados Universe 2008 has begun.

Remember to send comments or suggestions for this column to khalil.goodman@gmail.com or info@islandevents.com