The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

Colours Junkanoo group is on an eight straight Junkanoo winning streak in the B-category with no intention of letting up. Group members told Tribune Entertainment they owe it to the year-round work they do as a group.

“We don’t go to Bay Street and walk away with a parade. We work at every single parade and I think the group is deserving of the wins because we work hard at what we do throughout the year before Boxing Day and New Year’s Day,” said group leader Chris Justlilien.

Performing regularly throughout the year, the group takes pleasure in performing at corporate, gala and sporting events with their unique one-colour costume themed.

Last year, the group took to Bay Street under the theme “Looking Back” with a story that surrounded major events and accomplishments of the Bahamas over the years. 
“Things like the formation of the College of the Bahamas and Government High School, and the police and defence force. Our choreograph section highlighted that there was once a Le Cabaret Theatre in the Bahamas and also a Playboy Casino. These things that we had but no longer exist,” said Mr Justilien, speaking about the Boxing Day performance.

On New Year’s Day, the group paid tribute to singer Eddie Minnis by featuring his music and also the fact that he is an artist and a musician.

“We work hard every year so this year’s wins are no different. It isn’t easy. A lot of people think that we don’t have competition and it is not that because we work hard at what we do and it pays off,” said Mr Justilien.

He said one thing that is important to know about Colours is that they have been around now celebrating 12 years and they have always done things Bahamian.

“We are firm believers that this is a Bahamian festival and we should feature things of the Bahamas, so you would never see us doing China, Africa, India and all these other places which may have their merit, but we think there are fair enough things in the Bahamas that can be featured,” said Mr Justilien.

Mr Justilien spoke about the group’s travel opportunities over the years to places like Italy, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Beverley Hills.

“In the Bahamas we have been travelling to Inagua for the past three years performing for their Junkanoo. So this is a small cohesive group that is more like a family,” said Mr Justilien.

Meeting as an organisation every month, he said the members make contributions to the group in more ways than one.

“We have a membership bill that we pay as well which is a very small fee. Those funds invest in things like the fact that we bought our own property, we bought our own building and we are always called upon by the Ministry of Tourism to do a lot of special events,” said Mr Justilien.

He said they are also involved in a number of charitable events.

“Whenever the Cancer Society calls upon to do things, we do it. Also, within the group itself, we are a self help group because there is a great difficulty in getting sponsors for the B-category, and we have to rely on ourselves to support each other. We have a number of students that are away in school and if they are in need of financial assistance, we help where we can. If there are members who are ill or need assistance, we try to do the best that we can in coming to their aid,” said Mr Justilien.

Given the fact that the group is small in size, Mr Justilien said this allows them to stay more connected.

“I don’t see us becoming an A-category group. A lot of people are confused to what an A-category group means. They think it has a lot to do with quality, but it is only size, if groups are 200 members and over. I believe that once you get over those kind of numbers it is very difficult to maintain discipline that we are able to demand of each individual.

It is easier to manage 10 people than 20, and that is why Colours continue to be so effective. We know each and every member, their names and their role and we can monitor if things are not going as they should. We have persons in place in all of the sections to train and to help, and if there are large numbers, it is more difficult to do that,” said Mr Justilien.