Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Ian Estwick has hailed this year's Party Monarch Finals on the East Coast as a success.
Despite the heavy morning showers which dampened the annual party and resulted in a late start, Estwick sent out "a hearty thank you" to his staff for a "well executed event" and Crop-Over Festival so far.
He said early in the day NCF officials were "a bit concerned" about the possible effects of the prolonged heavy rains on the event.
But thankfully, Estwick added, the misty, overcast skies and daunting showers gave way to partly cloudy skies and cool conditions which saw a much smaller crowd making its way to the Calypso Bowl. In fact, at no time did revellers have to complain about sweltering heat and dust that have become common to the Bowl.
The NCF boss said that to date the festival had been controversy-free and expressed optimism that it would stay that way.
While the crowd was smaller, Estwick said the NCF recorded a 30 per cent increase in the rental of tent spaces, which generated additional revenue.
Although he did not disclose how much money was made from this venture, he said he was happy to see more Barbadians renting tent spaces and enjoying themselves in the hills.
