Alan Springer (right), Opposition Spokesperson for The Arts, Culture and The Creative Economy and Scott Weatherhead, Opposition Spokesperson for Tourism and International Transport.
The Opposition Party, The People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP), is calling on the Barbados Government to be upfront and transparent about its plans for this year’s Crop Over and We Gatherin’ festivities, in light of the looming threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Alan Springer, Opposition Spokesperson for The Arts, Culture and The Creative Economy raised the issue during a press conference held at the Worthing Corporate Centre yesterday. Also present was Scott Weatherhead, Opposition Spokesperson for Tourism and International Transport.
“With so many nations around the world responding to the threat of Coronavirus by shutting down what can be loosely termed “cultural events”, we are calling on government to advise the nation on their planning for Crop Over 2020. It should be noted that with the main push of Crop Over occurring in the June and July months, now is the time when many Barbadians around the world will be looking to make their flight bookings and finalise vacation accommodations. They will be in desperate need to hear of our plans for Crop Over this year, but we have heard nothing from government on this,” Springer declared.
“We wish to make very clear that we are not in any way trying to persuade a decision either way, but we are forcefully calling on government to be transparent about plans for Crop Over at this early stage, so that others can do their own planning also. In addition to those who fly in from the international community, we are given to understand that the majority of our Crop Over visitors come from our neighbours in the Caribbean region. They too must be given appropriate information, about our plans for this year’s Crop Over,” he added.
“Then too, there are those on the island who will now be putting plans together in preparation for their own participation in the festival, costumes to be designed and made, trucks to be booked, songs to be written, venues to be hired and equipment to be purchased.
It has passed the time when government needed to have told us something about their thinking on all this and we are calling on Government, on behalf of all Barbadians, to be transparent over their plans for this year’s festivities,” he stressed.
Springer then spoke to the issue of the “We Gatherin” exercise. Having completed two months of this intended 12-month festival of gathering and in the light of the Coronavirus, he queried whether the initiative will still continue?
“The very name ‘gathering’ would appear to be a major prohibition, in the fight against Coronavirus. What is the government’s take on this?” he queried.
“Does government have the intention of continuing with We Gathering, or is their message to Bajans overseas more a case of stay where you are? Are we still gathering, or is it a case of “We Scattering”? We want to know,” Springer remarked. (RSM)