The island of Barbados is quietly proving that they're up to the Carnival challenge. Crop Over stakeholders are anxiously awaiting an expected influx of Caribbean nationals, among them Trinbagonians who're looking for the next best thing after Trini Carnival.This year, Charlene Clarke of Unlimited Resources-an event planning and project management consultative outfit based in T&T, will encourage both corporate bodies and individuals alike, to share in the thrill of Crop Over celebrations in Barbados.Already the local company has flown a contingent of media practitioners from T&T to Barbados where they were able to see and experience, first-hand, the facilities that will be afforded to Carnival lovers when they visit for Crop Over this year."The objective of the trip was to allow the media to experience a mirror of the planned activities that would lead up to Crop Over from July 28 to August 2," said Clarke.
She explained that those who were invited stayed at the two hotels that have partnered with her company to offer the best possible rates to vacationers."The media met with the management at the Almond Casuarina Resort where they got the chance to participate in a number of sporting activities."They did water skiing, jet skiing, the banana boat, they swam with turtles and they also did wind sailing," said an excited Clarke.She explained that the management of the hotel was able to divulge, in great detail, the wonders that exist at the facility, perks they believe will be great attractions to people from other islands, and even people outside of the Caribbean region.At the hotel's Almond Beach Club, the media was treated to lunch, and by the end of the trip, Clarke said they all agreed that the concept of providing an inter-Caribbean cultural connection was a good one indeed.At the Almond Casuarina Resort, a third entity that exists is the Almond Village, which according to Clarke, attracts families, and allows for children to enjoy the thrill of a water park, complete with slides and swimming pools.The second hotel experienced by the media during the trip was the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, which has also partnered with Unlimited Resources to ensure of a good Crop Over experience for all who visited.
Hilton Barbados comes on board
During the trip, the media coincidentally met up with Bajan calypsonian, Red Plastic Bag, and the island's reigning Soca Monarch King, Andy "Blood" Armstrong."They both agreed that the Flavour De Mas project is a fantastic idea which focuses on the integration of each island's culture and Carnivals."They said Barbados mirrors T&T's Carnival and they hoped that one day Barbados' Crop Over could grow to be like that of T&T," said Clarke."Red Plastic Bag spoke with us about calypsonians like ChalkDust, Duke, Kitchener and Sparrow, explaining that he learnt about Trinidad and Tobago from them," she recalled.The contingent was also privileged to meet with the country's ambassador at the Barbados Hilton, where it was suggested that the Hilton Barbados be included in the Flavour De Mas project.By the end of the trip, the hotel was on board and Clarke divulged that the corporate Flavour De Mas package would now include the Hilton Barbados experience.With work continuously being done to guarantee a wonderful Crop Over experience to those who visited courtesy Unlimited Resources, Charlene Clarke assured that Barbados would be the first of many cultural packages to come."Various ambassadors are now asking to partner with their countries to expose their cultures."Our next trip will be to Costa Rica. Even though they don't have a Carnival, there's a lot of history in Costa Rica," said Clarke.
Media heads back to Barbados
Unlimited Resources will fly to Barbados with the media once again from May 12 to 15 and one day prior to that departure, Clarke said, the project would officially be launched."I'm taking the media back to Barbados to follow up on the weekend activities and nightlife on the island," she said, adding that this time around, individuals wishing to be a part of the trip could come along."We've been able to secure a 50 per cent discount on room occupancy at the hotels and those who come along will also be a part of taping for Gayelle's Dreevay," she said, encouraging people to book early by calling Naipaul's travel at 623-8889 or 623-5516 or e-mail: lsnaipaul@msn.com.Unlimited Resources, in the meantime, is hard at work meeting with stakeholders here in T&T, among them, the Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Company, which will more than likely partner with the Unlimited Resources to promote the entertainment of T&T to the rest of the Caribbean.