Crop Over 2011 came to its official end in a celebratory fashion with the Prize Giving Awards Ceremony held at the Frank Collymore Hall, Central Bank of Barbados on Saturday. On a night when Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, the Hon. Stephen Lashley described the past season as “one of our most successful, enjoyable and controversy-free Crop Over Festivals ever”, winners in the various categories of Grand Kadooment and Junior Kadooment and the Calypso competitions were presented with their prizes. Noticeable among the Kadooment winners were Gwyneth Squires and Betty West, who were recognized for their involvement in mas in Barbados over twenty five and twenty years respectively.

In the presence of the NCF Chairman, Board members and Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Sponsors, entertainers, members of the support services, stake holders and the media, the minister recounted that the NCF Board had met with the constituents early, in a series of consultations which served to pave the way towards a strengthened relationship with stake holders. ”The consultations were frank, honest and productive and that signaled the beginning of a strengthened working relationship that has brought us to this successful point.” The Minister also urged more businesses to become involved as sponsors of a Festival that generates more economic activity than any other sector and which is benefitting an ever increasing number of Barbadians in greater and more diverse areas.

The Primary Schools’ costume making workshops were highlighted as one area in which great strides were made, as 19 of 51 prizes were won by the five participating schools. Minister Lashley indicated that other workshops in the Festival were those conducted by steel pannists Liam Teague, Victor Provost and Arturo Tappin and by members of the Brazilian Samba School Rosas de Oura who shared techniques in costume making and Samba dance. The Minister offered that advantage was taken of the presence of visiting experts to gleam the knowledge that is beneficial to the development of the Festival. In his remarks Minister Lashley revealed that Barbadian Heritage will play a greater role in Crop Over 2012 and that we could turn to our youth with hope as we look to the future.

Big winners on the night were Jump Promotions’ Pride, Renee Ratcliffe  for Large Band of the Year, Gwyneth Squires, Festival Designer and Best Band on the Road, Edwin ‘The General’ Yearwood for Tune of the Crop  and David ‘Popsicle’ Hall, Calypso Festival Writer. Following the three hour ceremony, patrons at the event were feted on the balcony with performances which featured Sweet Soca Monarch Red Plastic Bag and Calypso Monarch ‘Popsicle’.