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Category Archives: Barbados
Crop Over Festival Safety & Security
Barbados Crop Over Festival’s twelve week calendar between May and August is celebrated with Cavalcades, Costume Band Launches, Parties and Calypso Tents. Personal security and safety are integral concerns for anyone leading an independent life. While we like to believe we are safe, the possibility of encountering a dangerous situation always exist.
There is no experience quite as traumatic as the occasion when our personal security and safety is threatened. Various life circumstances make us vulnerable to harm. Being prepared for such situations can often mean a difference between life and death.
The most important part of a personal security plan is use of common sense to avoid dangerous situations, becoming a victim or losing valuables.
► Pickpocketing is one of the world’s most widespread crimes. While attending and enjoying Crop Over events be cognizant that a skilled pickpocket can steal just as much money from individuals as an armed attacker. The perpetrator’s sleight of hand robbery technique makes it a popular criminal practice at events where crowds congregate.
► Counteract the possibility of theft. Always separate your money. Do not possess more cash than needed for one occasion. Keep separate in different pockets, or carry in a money belt/pouch under your shirt/top.
► What you are not wearing cannot be stolen. Avoid sporting gaudy jewelry. Do not leave home with valuables you will not keep on your person, to avoid vehicle breaking and entry.
► For individuals capturing party adventures photos and video are innovative ways to remember the good times. Ensure personal equipment, smart phones and tablets, are always kept close.
Event host/planners, reviewing perimeter security and safety procedures, should include the examination of required system capabilities. Where additional constructed stages for performers, use of pyrotechnics or other amenities are required a reputable insurance company should be consulted to ensure adequate coverage is provided. Need may be discovered for securing a different or entirely new risk.
Prior to making security adjustments consider enlisting a security specialist to assist with evaluation of the current system. Support may be provided with determining additional risks a host/planner was unaware of, thus eliminating costly security and safety breaches. Avoiding these common mistakes can greatly improve the result of an event’s security and safety process, providing an advantage in today’s increasingly savvy theft and crime tactics environment.
Soca Royale
The results are in for the contenders of the Sweet Soca & Party Monarch to challenge for the 2015 crowns.
The list are as follows:
Sweet Soca Finalists 2015
- MR Blood – I Feel Alive
- Edwin – Party Ah De Year
- Hypasounds – Sugar Rush
- Imani – Fire Meh
- iWeb – All Inclusive
- Mistah Dale – Celebrate
- Red Plastic Bag – Spontaneous
- TC – Under De Influence
RESERVE: Nikita – Wine Gyal
Sweet Soca King – Biggie Irie
Party Monarch Finalists 2015
- Adrian Clarke – We Festival
- MR Blood – Let It Go
- Hypasounds – How She Like It
- iWeb – Last Time
- King Bubba FM – Mash Up “When I Touch Down”
- Lil Rick – We Bizness
- Mikey – Hands On De Road
- Peter Ram – All Ah We
RESERVE: Kirk Brown – Trouble (NS/SAT)
Reigning Party Monarch – Gorg
Cropovian
New for Crop Over ….. Are you a
Pronunciation: Crop-O-Vian
Definition: A lover of Crop Over and all things Crop Over.
Origin: Bajan
feteVIP – We fete VIP
Event Food Safety Handbook
Having an event this Crop Over season or will be serving food at roadside for one of the numerous events ?
Here is the link for food safety ….
Barbados Ministry of Health Food Safety Handbook ……. 
Be safe this and every Crop Over
Crop Over Song Review – Coopa Dan
Barkin Spida- Soca Official
Soca Review
TRACK: OWN DAY 
WRITTEN BY: JERMAINE COOPA DAN GITTENS & YOUNG D JOHNSON
PRODUCED BY: CHRIS ALLMAN AT SLAM CITY STUDIOS MIXED AND MASTERED BY: ANDREW DENNY
Big respect to Coopa Dan on this track! I am glad he dropped the slightly worn out intro tag line “Its de cooopaaaaa”. Sorry bro, it was cool when you did it the first time around with your popular 2013 break out track ‘Question of the Year’, but you should have probably left it right there in 2013…
The music on this Slam City produced track is BOUNCING and Coopa Dan even went back to his African roots with some crazy backing vocals.. And if I had to guess who did those backing vocals, it probably was the African Queen herself Indrani… But don’t quote on that one…All around good job, and I give this track 8 FLAGS out of 10….
Keep locked for more reviews over the summer season..Cheers!! Barkin Spida
Costume Readiness
Is your Costume “Wuk Up” Ready
Ah boy! 2015 Crop Over right round the corner y’all and with umpteen years of “wukuptology” in my waist I stopped to ponder. As the years of mas roll on I have seen the changing face of our culture in ladies costumes – from the full masquerade splendor depicting the Stories of our Life to the now barely there bikini depicting the Fantasies of our Life.
Not only have the costumes changed but the music as well. Today, we have moved from a melodic, easy paced chip rhythm to the musical vibe that brings the forbidden dance from our souls. This along with the freedom of our society is displayed in the gyrations on the road that bring lustful thoughts to the most saintly of persons.
So with this in mind ….Is your costume “Wuk Up” Ready? To determine this, we must first establish what type of costume you’ve got!
There’s the:
- Poser – Pure show … No Touchie, Touchie
Usually found in the Frontline, this is the porcelain doll of costumes (to be seen but not played with). Meticulously bedazzled and hard to miss with its preponderance of plumage rivaling any peacock. These ladies maintain their poised personas all the way to Spring Garden; with hair, nails, make-up and eyebrows on fleek (age appropriate translation..on point) – always camera-ready 24/7. The beauty of these costumes is undeniable and with the accompanying cost, it’s no wonder they don’t want you to touch.
• Chip Approved – Perfect for a cool ‘chip, chip’ down the road individual
This costume is probably one of the most daring on the road and I like um. Its wire bra and thong design leaves us men breathless and some females jealous or all out hating of the daring ladies that manage to successfully carry off this look with nothing more than a smile. But alas, if one ventures in at too hectic a gyration it will become a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ (a la Janet Jackson) or cause some trouble with the RSPCA for endangering cats (we Bajans will understand).
• Jump Ready – Preferred choice of the seasoned reveler.
This costume is the meat and potatoes of any band. Ample coverage from the top to the boy shorts at the bottom make it perfect for revelers of any physique and most importantly ready for most energetic of movements. Like a Ford, they built TOUGH, so no matter if the bumper get “ben up”, they pooch back like black ants, stick it, balance and DUN it UP.
All that said, no matter which costume you choose, the MOST important rule is to ensure you select the correct size………. I don’t have to spell it out for yuh or do I ? Failing to follow this most important rule could make you the most popular person on social media (not in a good way) and the focus of a few snickers at the office and from “friends”.
Look out fuh me on the road…I will be the one trying to get ‘On pun yuh bumpa , on pun yuh bump’ no matter what costume you choose (lol).
~ Semi Retired Reveller
New Section Added
Its here ……our introduction to tips and tricks on surviving a festival !!!!!!
Take a look at our page here ….. Carnival Tip & Tricks
This is by no means the end of it, our writer will be updating new content often….
We welcome your comments, please email us here ….. info@fetevip.com
Security – From Parties to Jump UP
Once again Barbados’ Crop Over, our annual national sugar cane harvest festival, is in the air. Calypso music scores this twenty-four day special event. The rum spiked occasion is designed for locals and visitors to have fun together. On Kadooment day a diverse mix of individuals play mass in themed costume bands. Life is literally sweet. How many attendees know about or regard behind the scenes planning required to keep everyone safe?
Preceding Grand Kadooment’s climax on the Spring Garden party highway there are several spin off events and fetes. Successful event planners realize all activities, big and small, must incorporate security and safety as priority and make them paramount importance. Planning security for a special event requires a tailored approach that balances effective, non-excessive security measures against a realistic assessment of likely threats to the particular event.
A “one size fits all” approach to security and safety fails to consider aspects of the event that makes it unique. Event planners are better served by obtaining a customized security plan that encompasses a threat assessment. This special scrutiny identifies and quantifies potential risk. The goal is to separate likely threats from perceived or imagined ones.
For an inexperienced planner emotions can run high when considering possible threats such as robbery, physical abuse or harassment. Feelings that cloud rational thinking during planning stages. The veteran event planner can distinguish the conceivable from the irrational and develop a plan that adequately addresses legitimate concerns, without wasting resources and money on the unnecessary.
Appropriate security and safety measures offer three critical benefits.
- They provide a restrictive effect that dissuades potential trouble makers.
- Implement measures that intercept hooligans.
- Action an emergency plan that prepares everyone to respond appropriately, should an incident occur.
Effective security reassures the public, without detracting from the event’s image. It also does not inconvenience attendees. To achieve this balance the event planner should select an experienced security practitioner, who has diverse experience and adequate personnel to implement the security plan professionally.
This article compiled and written by Ricardo Swire
Ricardo Swire is the Principal of R-L-H SECURITY CONSULTANTS & BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES. He is a decorated highly trained former Barbados Defense Force (BDF) veteran, with more than a decade in corporate experience. Mr. Swire successfully implemented and managed physical security programs in Barbados and Jamaica. More information about his work and professional achievements can be gleaned from LinkedIn.