A high security presence will be felt this year as over 10 000 revellers are expected to jam on the road for the Kooyman Foreday Morning event, matching the numbers of last year.
Corporate communications specialist with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Toni Yarde, told the Weekend Nation while “bands are responsible for the provision of their private security for their respective band as is the norm each year, we conducted a lighting test which assisted us in identifying areas of concern and making the necessary adjustments prior to the event.
“The NCF continues to work in close partnership with the Barbados Police Service and Barbados Defence Force for all of our events. As is always the case, their presence will be seen and felt for Foreday Morning Jam and all of our events this weekend.”
While the number of registered bands has grown over the years, the actual number that hits the road come the big day are fewer.
In 2019, there were 29 registered bands and last year, that increased to 33. Although this year at the close of registration there were 39, the final count yesterday was 27 as some merged.
Kooyman Foreday Morning Jam comes off tomorrow, starting at 1 a.m. as the eager party-goers move off from three starting points headed to the Mighty Grynner Highway on Spring Garden. These points are: Queen’s Park, the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTII) and the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) on Harbour Road.
The party officially kicks off with the first bands leaving from Queen’s Park and heading to Constitution Road, onto St Michael’s Row, Bridge Street and then Wharf Road.
From the BTII car park on Bay Street, those bands will traverse Parfitt Alley onto Bay Street, then onto Fairchild Street, before meeting at Bridge Street where the route connects at Wharf Road.
Revellers will then head west to Hincks Street in the direction of the Princess Alice Highway and connect with the final starting point at the BIDC on Harbour Road. The route continues along Prescod Boulevard, to President Kennedy Drive and culminates at the Mighty Grynner Highway.
Event producer Kelly-Ann Gaskin said all systems were a go, having had multiple meetings with the bands, the final one at the NCF on Tuesday evening.
Yarde said bands which hit the road for two years would again be eligible for a $4 000 subvention, made possible by corporate partners like Kooyman, whom she lauded for the $45 000 investment in the Crop Over Festival.
“Bands who came in 2022 and or 2023 qualified to receive a subvention of $4 000, which has been paid. “Thirty-two bands received the subvention although they have opted to merge. There have been no penalties imposed in terms of repaying of the funds and so on.
“We are happy to have Kooyman back again. Each year there are new sponsorship agreements for respective Crop Over events. No Crop Over sponsors have signed on for more than one year of sponsorship.”
The “King of the Road”, previously called the Roberts truck, will be back again and while the Jam Tune is still off the cards, Yarde said revellers and patrons would benefit from the Bridgetown Market party zones and also vendors that would be set up from Princess Alice Highway to Mighty Grynner Highway. ( NS)
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