IT IS CROP-OVER time again in Barbados, and people are coming home in droves from places such as England and the United States.The arrival hall of the Grantley Adams International Airport is regularly filled with the anxious faces of people awaiting their loved ones. Anxiety soon turns to joy when that special someone is spotted emerging from the doors.The WEEKEND NATION team made a second visit to the airport on Wednesday to document some of those special arrivals.Darnell Sprott was among those coming home. While he was not actually born in Barbados, his parents and grandparents were and he got a warm welcome and a loving embrace from his grandmother Anthea Hutson.Sprott hails from Reading, England, but is no stranger to these shores. He said he planned to take in the Crop-Over events and sunbathe on the beach.For her part, Hutson said she was going to spoil him with “whatever he wants”.Other people had ulterior motives to the Crop-Over events. Rudolph Skeete also lives in England and said his primary reason for making the trip was a family reunion but, like many Bajans, he would be attending the festivities as well.“I come every three or four years, generally around Christmas. I’m here for a family reunion but I will be at Kensington for the [Crop-Over] Gala.“I love everything about the festival. I love the sun, the people – but I don’t do the sea. I prefer historical sites,” he said.Nearby, his daughter Margaret Herbert said she came in from New York for the same reunion, as well as a St Leonard’s Girls’ reunion but added that Crop-Over was an added incentive.“I love the dancing, fun and food. We’re going to Kadooment but I’m a chicken, so I won’t be jumping, just spectating,” she said.Sheila Headley is also home for a reunion, but she and her daughter Evadne Headley plan to catch the festival fever once they know the schedule.“I don’t know what’s going on now, but we’re hoping to catch as much events as possible,” she said.Loves BarbadosDavid Denny said he was here more for family than anything else and loved Barbados in general, rather than just for the festival.“I’m here to visit family, not really for Crop-Over, but I come every year. I love everything Barbados stands for, despite being born in England. My parents and grandparents are Bajan and I want my kids to know their heritage,” he said.Orisa George was born in New York and has relatives in Trinidad, but that does not stop her from coming to these shores for the season. She said she also had family and friends in Barbados and planned to “party hearty”.“I will be jumping in Baje International this year. I love Barbados, the accessibility of the beaches and the party life,” she said.While “not really here for Crop-Over”, Gladys Sylvester said she had originally planned to catch the “costumed parade” (Grand Kadooment) at the stadium. Alas, that venue has changed so she said she may miss the event this year. However, she will not be missing Friday nights in Oistins.Student Krystal Delaney received one of the biggest receptions when she arrived home. So much so that the embarrassed but happy young lady pretended to walk past her jubilant family, who shouted her name and released balloons.Her proud mother Harriett Delaney-Walcott said her daughter was studying law in England and was called to the Bar there. Now she just has to go to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad before she is admitted to the local Bar. However, Krystal said that would be all “in due course” as “now” was time for celebration.
