Authorities in Barbados continue to face mounting backlash on Sunday (November 7), as citizens called out a ‘gentrified bus crawl’ exclusively catered for tourists. 

Bus crawls are a popular event in the Caribbean country and, put simply, are open-window ZR vehicles that parade along roads with flowing liquor and loud music. Bar-hopping, picnics and parties are also commonplace at bus crawls.

The source of the contention lies with Mini Bajan Bus, whose flyer advertising excursion tours raised eyebrows on Twitter and Facebook.

Boasting of its services being “perfect for island tours, special events, private charters & birthdays”, Mini Bajan Bus encourages potential clients to explore paradise. 

The buses, according to the company in an Instagram post, were illustrated by Bajan-born creative Cathy Cummins. 

The company also detailed how open buses became so popular and ingrained in the culture of Barbados.

“The history of the open buses in Barbados go back to the early 1900s when the transport movement was at its beginning. The naked chassis were shipped from England for the body of the bus to be erected by Barbadian wood craftsmen. Each bus was slightly different and, as the time passed, a common open bus look began to emerge,” Mini Bajan Bus noted.

“Today the Bajan buses have once again become popular and the open buses are seen taking so many fun loving people around this beautiful island. Picnics, bus tours, rum shop pub hops are just some of the fun times to be had,” the company added.

The last line is what many native Barbadians seem to have a problem with—seeing as the ‘gentrified bus crawls’ displayed by Mini Bajan Bus have managed to do something local operators can’t, and that is to merely exist.

As recent as July, bus crawls remain prohibited by the Government of Barbados, citing the increased risk of spreading the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

“I cannot over-emphasise the need for us to be responsible. All of Barbados knows what is at risk; we simply cannot afford to create super spreader environments or any environments which facilitate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, especially with the knowledge that as the virus mutates it is becoming more contagious.  While there is no 24-hour curfew over this long weekend, the protocols and current directives are still in force with respect to an 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew and prohibitions on parties, bus crawls and the like,” remarked Acting Attorney General and Minister of Information and Public Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams on July 31.

The ban on local bus crawls was not missed by Bajans, who slammed the government for hypocrisy in the face of ‘saving the economy’.

“This is probably the elite mode of a bus crawl,” Nicholas Mayers commented on a Facebook post by the Nation Barbados, which shared the ‘new attraction’ late on Saturday.

The ire was not lost on Bajan Twitter users either as @D_GrammarNazi wrote, “Only white people are allowed on bus crawls. Change my mind!!!”

The fiery conversation was balanced enough to include views where some citizens argued that despite its ‘Caucasian aesthetic’, there was no indication, however, that a black Bajan seeking to utilise Mini Bajan Bus’ services would be denied.