Carnival to be postponed until May 18-20

As of Monday, April 3, 2017

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

LESS than a week after officials announced the event’s line-up, Prime Minister Perry Christie has confirmed that the 2017 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival has been postponed until after the general election.

The news has “blindsided” key stakeholders and vendors, who decried the confusion, likely damage to brand and reputation and potential financial losses resulting from the date change.

The Tribune understands the event has been pushed back from May 4-6 to May 18-20 in Nassau. The new date was also circulated in a flyer by Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’s Instagram account last night.

It is unclear whether the Grand Bahama-leg of the festival, slated for April 28 and 29, has also been pushed back.

Mr Christie was asked about the postponement on the sidelines of a ceremony to rename thoroughfares at the University of the Bahamas, after a report published in The Nassau Guardian indicated that the government had decided to delay the event.

Mr Christie said: “I’m advised that the Carnival Commission has met and agreed that because of the impending possibilities, to suspend or extend the date of (Junkanoo) Carnival. I don’t know the dates they had chosen but it is my understanding that that has been done.”

Up to press time, the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) had not released a new date for the event, or an official statement on the postponement.

John 7 years, 1 month ago

Then you must work wonder about the REAL reason why the event was postponed or even canceled depending on the outcome of the election. Hint: The same person responsible for setting the election date was also in eventcharge of setting up carnival. Something is wrong they now say the two events conflict

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 1 month ago

Correct. They're not saying what the real reason is. Maybe the dates were in jeopardy irrespective of when election is held. Resources or money.

We still waiting on the Caribbean Music Festival, they cancelled that cause they couldn't agree on the payment for the stage equipment.

ThisIsOurs 7 years, 1 month ago

On second thought, maybe Perry Christie scheduled carnival, the PM scheduled the election and the Minister of Finance was in charge of the rallies. That would explain the confusion

DDK 7 years, 1 month ago

Good one!

thomas 7 years, 1 month ago

They just have another way to "Piss away our money"...#rich language.

John 7 years, 1 month ago

My opinion is that now that they (PLP) have foot soldiers on the ground, they are finding (a little too late) out the number of people who oppose Carnival, not only from a Christain point of view, but many feel the funds can be better used on more important matters. They are also finding out that many voters are sore about the web shops, especially on the Family Islands, where gambling addiction is almost epidemic in some places. The PLP has lost a lot of the church vote. Then there are the crime worries in New Providence and Grand Bahama, murder especially, (notice the concern about the two murdered young boys has almost been buried with them), Corruption matters in the government or, at least lack of accountability. The run-a-way national debt in spite of VAt and other taxes being introduced, the dump fires, high unemployment, especially with another 5,000 or so chirren about to get released from the school system

jackbnimble 7 years, 1 month ago

They are not foolish. They know that Carnival is a sore point for Bahamians because of the very obvious waste of taxpayers dollars on an event that will probably never turn a profit. They also know that it will used in the opposition election rallies against them. How is it that you have hurting Bahamians and a lackluster economy but you can find time and money to have a party in streets?

The man in not stupid. Guarantee if they win, though, the budget will double.

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID

The Tribune