LAWLESSNESS HAS MARRED a Crop Over event, causing it to be removed from the calendar for 2016.
Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley has taken the advice of the Royal Barbados Police Force to not stage the Christ Church Carnival this year. He made the announcement at the launch of Crop Over 2016 at Ilaro Court last night.
He said police “were extremely concerned” about the elements of violence and gun play that have marred the St Philip Carnival and “marred part of the Christ Church Carnival last year”.
“We have taken that advice and will not have a Christ Church Carnival this year. The National Cultural Foundation is contemplating doing an activity that involves the schools which will entail creativity and costume design and perhaps have an event with the schools,” Lashley said.
He said the Christ Church Carnival is not off the calendar for good.
Here are some of the key dates and changes:
*May 20 is the launch of Crop Over 2016 with a mega Cavalcade at Briar Hall Playing Field in Christ Church.
*Bridgetown Market will last for five days – from Friday, July 29 to Tuesday, August 2, which is a public holiday.
*Grand Kadooment will remain on Monday in conjunction with Emancipation Day.
*Junior Kadooment will be at the National Stadium on Saturday, July 23.
*Soca Royale will be held on Sunday, July 24 at Bushy Park.
*There will be no Cohobblopot this year. In its place will be a Monarchs of the Mas at Kensington Oval on Sunday July 31.
*Kensington Oval will be the home for the semi-finals and finals of Pic-O-De-Crop and Junior Monarchs finals, while the semi-finals will be held at Derrick Smith School, Lears, St Michael. (NS)
