First it was the Valley Boys who had unofficially won the parade. Then, the National Junkanoo Committee declared the Shell Saxons Superstars the winners.
Last week, the Valley Boys was again handed the crown. In round four of the dispute, the Saxons intend to “fight ’til the end” and produce new findings.
Saxons leader Percy “Vola” Francis visited The Guardian over the weekend, revealing that today his group would request that the special committee review its findings to determine whether certain scores were properly rounded off.
On Wednesday, the special committee, which comprises of Dr. Hervis Bain, Ishmeal Lightbourne and Paul Adderley, announced that the Valley Boys had rightfully won the parade by three points.
A possible tie?
However, if the Saxons findings were correct, it would mean that they were short three points, tying them with the Valley Boys.
“In reviewing the scores on Saturday morning, we discovered that there were some inconsistencies as related to the decimal point. One particular score, there was a 4,545. They turned a ’96’ into a ’97,’ which actually should have been a ’96.’ Now, that was in our favour. With other scores, they didn’t do that. They didn’t turn those numbers in…. those numbers remained the same,” Mr. Francis said.
He is demanding that the same consistencies apply to his group, which, he said, would result in “both the Saxons and Valley having the same total score of 3,418 overall points.”
“We are going right to the end. We don’t normally carrying on this way, but we just could not sit by and continue to let these people just roll over us. We are standing our ground and sticking by the NJC, who we see as the statutory officials,” said Mr. Francis.
Response to criticism
In response to criticism from the public, who believe that the Junkanoo dispute has transformed the Christmas festival into a competition rather than a cultural event, Mr. Francis said competition is “the life of Junkanoo.”
“Junkanoo has always been a competition,” he said, adding, “What is the use of us going into those shacks preparing and using our brains to come up with these fantastic creations and not be competitive. That’s what it’s all about. The competitive spirit is what’s keeping Junkanoo alive…. I want (to) win, I want bragging rights, that’s what Junkanoo is all about.”
Asked on what is the present state of the Junkanoo dispute, Mr. Francis said, “As far as we are concerned we are in a deadlock. So, the Valley Boys don’t get to be happy right now.”
Valley Boys’ statement
A day after the group was declared the winners, the Valley Boys leaders issued a statement to the press.
The statement noted that the independent review was not a matter between the Valley Boys and the Saxons or winning and losing, but rather “between right and wrong.”
It further stated: “In our opinion, had the NJC followed its own rules, i.e. the release of all scores and a thorough review of all scores within 48 hours of the parade, then the Bahamian public and indeed the Junkanoo community could have been speared this unnecessary confusion, which has extended the Junkanoo season by almost two months.”
The statement concluded by thanking the groups’ members, sponsors and supporters for their contribution to the victory.
Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
