By Tamesha Doughty on Wednesday, 23 March, 2022 at 04:05 PM

Some Barbadians expressed mixed reaction to the Government’s announcement of a modified 2022 Crop Over Festival, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales Associate, Shaq Prescod, said she is looking forward to attending "every Kadooment jump" regardless of their location.

Store Manager, Dion Carrington, shared Prescod’s sentiments while adding that she believes it is time "we go back to a new norm".

"We did not have Crop Over for two years, and it is time the entertainers, bandleaders, vendors, and store owners can make some money in areas they have not been making it for a while," Carrington said. 

In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, announced that there would be numerous changes to the summer festival.

The adjustments include splitting the Kadooment Day celebration into two jumps – one from Warrens, St. Michael to the National Botanical Gardens via the ABC Highway and the other from the Windward Cricket Club in St. Philip to Bushy Park via Lucas Street.

The Foreday Morning jam will be split into four, and revelers will jump from Searles Plantation to Ball Park in Christ Church. In and around Bushy Park, St Philip; at the National Botanical Gardens, St Michael; and from Farley Hill, St Peter, to Checker Hall in St Lucy. 

Cashier, Sanna Jemmott, said she believes the proposed changes "do not make sense because people will still be creating crowds at these events despite the different locations."

"I think we should wait until everything is clear to hold the events like it was done prior to the pandemic because it is unlikely that people will enjoy the events in this format," she added.

Vendor, Luch Rismay, indicated that while the return of the festival is a "good move" for tourism, he has no interest in the events.

"It will attract more tourists to Barbados during that time, and this will be good for business, but it [Crop Over] is not my thing," he said.

Registered nurse, Ava Griffith, echoed Rismay’s sentiments while she urged partygoers to play mas "as safely as possible because COVID-19 is still very much with us."

The Crop Over Festival will officially begin on July 2nd with the ceremonial delivery of the last canes and will be joined by the Season of Emancipation to celebrate the country’s cultural heritage and history.