The overseas journalists, who were in the island covering various aspects of the just concluded Crop Over festival, have been lauded by government for providing approximately US $1 million in press coverage which the island cannot pay.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner made these comments last Saturday at the Barbados Tourism Authority???s media conference at Hilton Barbados. She said an analysis had been done of media reports publicising the Crop Over festival and Barbados to the world and the exposure was estimated to be worth US $1 million.

She told the audience that included local and international journalists, the new Calypso Monarch, Ian Webster, Junior Monarchs, Quinn ???Quinn P??? Prescod and Charice ???Honesty??? Walrond and the Sweet Soca and Party Monarchs Anderson ???Blood??? Armstrong and Michael ???Mikey??? Mercer, that the 40 journalists who came in for the festival, were mainly from the Caribbean, Canada and the United Kingdom. There were also journalists here for the first time covering the festival from France, Italy and the Netherlands.

???I would wish to thank you for coming and taking the time to cover our Crop Over festival and to expose our destination Barbados,??? Senator Sandiford-Garner underlined.

She also showered the musicians with praise for driving the festival with their energy and infectious melodies. ???There could be no Crop Over festival without the musicians. Your energy gives us all energy and I thank you for enriching my life and the lives of all Barbadians,??? Senator Sandiford-Garner added.

She further stated: ???I also want to say congratulations to the monarchs ???especially the young ladies … who have told Barbados, that Crop Over and calypso is in good hands. Your confidence, delivery and maturity, would have impressed many and I wish you all the best. To the new king [Ian Webster], you were wonderful. Barbados has some immensely talented artistes and I am proud to be in your presence today.???

julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb

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