For the first time in the history of Junkanoo, the unofficial results have been overturned, giving the Shell Saxons Superstars the Walton “Sax” Taylor 2004 New Year’s Day Junkanoo crown.
According to new calculations released by the National Junkanoo Committee on Tuesday, the Saxons edged out its rival the Valley Boys, which was unofficially given the New Year’s Day win, by nine points.
Bill Wallace, NJC co-chairman, explained to the press that after reviewing the results, “it was determined that there was a problem with the penalty points issued.” With the Saxons Superstars, “there were some discrepancies in the number of persons in cloth, which ranged from a high of 100 to a low of eight.”
Those penalties accumulated to a 240-point deduction from that group, which unofficially finished second behind the Valley Boys. Mr. Wallace said cloth, according to the judges score sheet, was the most prominent infraction.
He assured that the penalty sheets showed that all marshals, who represent each ‘A’ group except the Music Makers and Barabbas and the Tribe, were in accord with the penalty points for six of the seven ‘A’ groups.
Official results
The official results are as follows: Shell Saxons Superstars – 3,415 points, the Valley Boys – 3,406 points with 210 points deducted, Roots – 3,134 points with 120 deducted, One Family – 3,111 points with 190 deducted, Prodigal Sons – 3,026 with 115 deducted, the Music Makers – 2,559 with 110 deducted and Barabbas and the Tribe – 1,885 with 330 deducted οΎ— the most deductions for any group.
Family Island NJC coordinator Arnold Bain stressed that the release of the New Year’s Day results is normal and not as a result of “the noise and the complaints.”
“It just so happens that this time it resulted in a change of places. This didn’t come about because of any complaints or whatever. This is a regular thing,” Mr. Bain said.
Saxons celebrate
Quickly, threats of boycotting Junkanoo were replaced with broad smiles and joyful hollering by Saxons leaders, members and fans. Returning from a brief trip overseas, leader Percy “Vola” Francis was met at the airport by other leaders, who briefed him on the win.
When NJC representative Eddie Thompson informed the Saxons Way community about the win, leader Willis “Kool-Aid” Bain said there was no surprise.
“There was no surprise. We knew we won from day one,” said a confident Bain. “We are ready to celebrate. The party is on Saxons Way liked we planned. The road was clogged up all the way to East Street. The party begins. They (the Valley Boys) are all invited. The champagne is still no ice.”
When the Guardian news team visited Saxons Way Tuesday evening, fans and leaders congregated at the community park to celebrate the win. Several persons were observed wearing T-shirts with the Saxons’ logo and the letter ‘S’ printed on them.
Valley Boys upset?
Not surprisingly, the Valley Boys did not take the news very well. According to an official at the ministry, leader Winston “Gus” Cooper “nearly broke up the place” upon hearing the announcement.
“Boy, Gus was furious. I mean he was mad,” said the ministry official. “All the staff was saying, ‘Call the police.'”
By the time the press arrived at the ministry, Cooper and his members had left. But, as the press was awaiting a response from the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Neville Wisdom, who later declined to do so, Valley Boys’ chairman Brian Adderley rushed into the office.
He and two other men were said to be arguing with the minister and members of the NJC, but it is unknown whether they were discussing results change.
When The Guardian contacted Mr. Adderley later Tuesday afternoon, he said he knew nothing about the Saxons winning and denied that he was at the ministry that afternoon. He then advised this reporter to contact him again at 2 p.m.
By that time, The Guardian received a tip from a reliable source that Mr. Cooper and Adderley had returned to the ministry and were meeting with Mr. Wisdom again. However, at 2:30 p.m. they had already left.
A second attempt was made to contact Adderley, but it proved futile. When Valley Boys member Peter Gold was contacted, he, too, claimed he knew nothing about the announcement, but assured that the Valley Boys would make a statement once it has “substantiated” the reports.
As a result of the controversy, one would wonder what strides the NJC is making to deliver the official scores more sooner. But, Director of Culture Dr. Nicholette Bethel-Burrows said rushing the reviewing process would only leave more room for error.
Saxons’ back line coordinator Teddy Lightbourne gave the NJC this advice: “In this moderns times with modern technology these things should not be going on in our times…. Now, is the time to get it right and get it right once and for all.”
Following the 2003 New Year’s Day parades, there were plans to introduce a computerized scoring system that would eliminate human error, but it never came into being.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
