This year’s Junior Junkanoo Parade, which was held on Cable Beach, according to many, was a huge success in terms of attendance, the lack of criminal activity and the relative smoothness in the movement of people to and from the event.
Furthermore, spectators also said that no matter where they sat on the bleachers they were able to see the parade, and directly following the occasion, clean-up crews were on the scene.
While all of this is good news, Junior Junkanoo is a baby compared to the Boxing and New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parades, so whatever snags were encountered at the Junior Junkanoo parade, they must be ironed out now. There is a lot on the line this year because of all the changes that were made to this year’s parades.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom and the Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe both believe that all of the parades this year will be a huge success. However, only after all of the ticket money has been collected and counted will the public truly know whether all the changes were indeed a success or a bust.
Many have criticised the rise in ticket prices, the increase of the three Junkanoo parades ﾖ Junior Junkanoo, and this month’s Boxing and New Year’s Day Junkanoo Parades ﾖ to five major parades and situating the parades between downtown and Cable Beach.
According to government officials, these changes were made for a variety of reasons including trying to increase revenue, safety, security, and comfort.
But it must also not be forgotten that the government has to make the money it spent to rent the now infamous bleachers for $1 million and to promote the parade.
As for the promotion of the parade, the Ministry of Tourism has selected 10 major festivals and events in the United States, to which a group of Junkanoo performers will travel to advertise The Bahamas and the cultural event.
The Ministry spent $15,000 for local Junkanoo groups to travel from Aug. 9-11 to perform at the Great Lakes Folk Festival in Michigan, the Detroit Caribbean Carnival in Detroit and the Music Fest in Florida.
So there is a lot of money which has to be made to offset the amounts that have been spent, and until the tabulations are in, there can be no celebrating.
Editorial, The Nassau Guardian
