Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine April 2016 | Page 51

support of most church-based organizations. Over the years, however, they have received great support from one church in the island of Trinidad and Tobago and also from a church in Guyana. This year, for Kadooment 2016, a group from The Bahamas has promised to send support. Sadly, corporate interest and sponsorship is also seriously lacking. WalkHoly believes that God is part and parcel of one’s culture and that their band represents God in the festival. Therefore, their presence within the island’s cultural expressions must not subtract or distract from the way God is represented in their lives on the other 364 days of the year. Hence decency and modesty is maintained in the band throughout the entire parade. Walk Holy believes they can enhance the festival and promote it as one for anyone, anywhere in the world to observe and enjoy. They believe that Kadooment Day should be a day for the entire family to embrace the heights of creativity attained and truly celebrate God’s providence, preservation and prosperity. They wish to see more spectacular floats, Kings and Queens and extravagant costuming on the road. More than anything they wish that the element of thanksgiving to God will be restored to the festival by all participants. Barbadians are still grappling with the concept of Christian involvement in a festival of this nature. People’s perception of it has improved over the years but the band has a long way to go in order to achieve the impact they envision. Anyone can join the band, provided they understand the band’s purpose and are willing and committed to enhancing its objectives. It has been very difficult to maintain the band’s membership due to the non- contributed by: Dave & Marcia Weekes, Walk Holy Band BARBADOS 47