THE Cockspur Red Hot Cohobblopot was bubbling over with more people than in attendance last year.

National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Chairman, Ken Knight said there was a "significant" increase in patrons, calling it a "tremendous success".

"Tonight was simply an ecstatic night for the NCF after numerous challenges in getting ready with this new venue (Kensington Oval).

"Although we do not have the official count, I believe the numbers were over 12 000, but I know it was above the attendance at the Pic-o-De-Crop finals and we are extremely happy.

"Judging from last year's turn out for Cohobbolopot, last night (Sunday) was a success, very much so. If I am not mistaken I think we had about 4 000 less last year, so this was a significant increase from last year," he said.

Last Friday night's crowd at Cable & Wireless/ FirstCaribbean International Bank Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, was estimated by police and NCF officials to be about 11 000, and those numbers too are said to have exceeded last year's attendance.

Knight said inviting Machel Montano, his guests David Rudder, Patrice Roberts, American hip-hop artist Lil John, and the no. 1 reggeaton artist Pitbull, along with the best local artistes, was overall strategy of the NCF "to make this into a world-class event".

"This is the beginning of an initiative in raising the level of Crop-Over to a really world-class and world-renowned event.

"In order to continue to do that, we will have to select the best the region has to offer in Trinidad, St Vincent or wherever.

"There are numerous components, but mainly two for Crop-Over, agriculture and tourism sectors, where we have to put emphasis on in terms of attracting people to our shores by making Crop-Over a world-class festival," Knight said.

He said the NCF would look to further develop the festival in another four to five years because of the increased competition from the other islands.

"The competition is getting stiffer and stiffer so we have to be ahead. I believe after Trinidad and Tobago, we are ranked number two in the region when it comes to festival promotion and we are going to improve our game as we go along.

"We have to offer a different kind of product and this is part of our long-term initiative to make the festival more diverse which I think has worked out . . . and by in large was a success," he said. (TM)

tracymoore@nationnews.com