The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

The Crop Over Festival in Barbados, which ends with the spectacular Carnival/Kadooment Parade, is the season used to celebrate the ending of the local Sugar Cane harvest, and is distinctly unique from the Carnival festivities in other Caribbean countries.

My first Crop Over Carnival took place in Barbados in August 2010. I was staying at the famous Sandy Lane with my friends where we were invited to go to the Crop Over from some of the locals who owned the Jet Skis on the resort. Of course we said yes to the yearly tradition and were not deterred when told by the hotel management that two of their security guards would have to be our bodyguards for the event.

Excited and wearing our bikinis and sarong coverups off we went on the jet skis to the Carnival (Crop Over). We arrived to music from Calypso, Soca and much more. It was electrifying. So much energy from the crowds and dancers who wore stunning colourful costumes, the smell of Caribbean food from the food stalls, alcohol everywhere and the smell of Cannabis filled the air.

The Crop Over started off amazingly until the locals and the tourists consumed way too much alcohol and/or weed. That is when we became uneasy, especially when the local men became a little too sexually aggressive with us, thankfully with our security and the guys from the Jet Skis with us, most guys backed off. Everywhere we turned there were people simulating sex with each other, or going off in a corner and having sex. Women wearing next to nothing and what I mean by that is some made us in bikinis and sarongs look over dressed. Some people got into fights and some people were robbed. We decided to leave before it became utter chaos.

What started out as a stunning fun-day became sadly a sex show. This was back in 2010, judging by videos I have seen since on The Crop Over it has become – dare I say – WORSE.

I would hate to see this kind of show come to our island, especially with the ongoing violence, theft, under age sex/pregnancies and sex crimes we already have here. This would only encourage more of the above. If this is what carnival is, then I vote a big NO!

DEVOTED TO THE BAHAMAS

Nassau,

February 4, 2015.