THOSE PUMPING MONEY into making the Crop-Over festival a success are not reaping the big financial rewards.

This was stated by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Culture, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, who has special responsibility for Crop-Over, while speaking at the launch of the Berger Boyz band, Berger Boyz Go To Hollywood, on Tuesday evening at Club Extreme, Worthing, Christ Church.

She said over the last two years, the festival had grossed $75 million and a study needed to be done to see who really got the sweets out of Crop-Over.

"Not that you get very much of it. When you study the statistics, the band leaders, fete hosters, the people who play an integral part in this festival do not really glean the majority of the big slice of the economic cake. This is something which needs further study because some of the people who really do make the money from Crop-Over are the ones who put in the least amount of effort," she said.

Sandiford-Garner added very few corporate citizens invested in Crop-Over, but there were some big, silent revenue earners who did not contribute.

She told the Berger Boyz band, which will be coming with 750 members this year over last year's 500, that its seventh year in the fete/Crop-Over business should be seen as its age of perfection. (WB)