by ANDREA KING

PRIME MINISTER Owen Arthur is on a mission to keep Crop-Over relevant long after the demise of King Sugar.

He says the festival – conceptualised and named out of the sugar cane harvesting celebrations – must highlight the liberation of the Barbadian spirit in every capacity and not just be a celebratory event.

"In celebrating the Barbadian spirit, it must not just be about celebrating the fact of emancipation from slavery, or the fact that we are a predominantly black society, but the liberation of the Barbadian spirit inevery capacity.

"That is what is going to give Crop-Over an enduring relevance within the context of our national events long after the sugar industry has ceased being a major contributor of any national development," he told Crop-Over sponsors, stakeholders and the media at the 2006 Crop-Over Sponsors' Breakfast at the Barbados Hilton yesterday.

Noting that no other event brought all Barbadians together like Crop-Over, he said the June-August festival must continue to do so, while distinguishing itself from other festivals that had grown in popularity in the Caribbean.

"We are not seeking to replicate the Trinidad Carnival or any of the other summer festivals. Our Crop-Over must be in essence a celebration of the liberation of the Barbadian spirit – whether that spirit is expressed in economic accomplishments, our strong sense of national sovereignty, our social development, our cultural identity, our art," he added.

Noting the festival should also focus on liberation, he said it was a step towards building bridges between the National Cultural Foundation and the Commission for Pan African Affairs.

The Prime Minister urged his listeners to see themselves participating in an activity that was part of the Season of Emancipation, which itself upheld the creative Barbados spirit.