Restoring the iconic Kings and Queens of the Bands to Crop Over will depend heavily on increased financial support, according to a senior masquerader, as mas’ industry players seek to revive one of the festival’s most visually striking traditions.

At last week’s launch of the Flow 5G Grand Kadooment powered by TV8, vice-president of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM), Anthony Layne welcomed the return of Cohobblopot but cautioned that restoring the spectacle of the intricate costumes to its former glory would require significant investment.

The high cost of designing and constructing elaborate King and Queen costumes remains one of the biggest challenges facing bandleaders and designers, particularly newcomers to the industry, said Layne.