Four big names are out of Crop Over this year but the cultural authorities do not believe it will have a negative effect on the festival.
Edwin Yearwood, the country’s first artiste to win three crowns in one year when he copped the Pic-O-De-Crop, Party Monarch and Road March in 1995, is the latest entertainer to announce a sit-out of this season’s competitions.
He stated on his Facebook page Sunday night that he would not be taking part in the official judging events.
Admitting he had “thought about it and my vibe is not there at the moment”, Yearwood, the long-standing lead vocalist of krosfyah, said he had so far entered the Sweet Soca preliminaries but had not made it to the next round.
His withdrawal follows those of Lil Rick, Gabby and reigning calypso king Red Plastic Bag, all of whom opted out for varying reasons.