The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Dr Danny Johnson yesterday was optimistic that everything will go according to plan with the launch of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in Grand Bahama this weekend.

At a press conference at his ministry, Dr Johnson said the government, as well as the Festival Commission, is confident that everything will be in place for this weekend’s launch – to be held on Saturday and Sunday at Taino Beach.

Dr Johnson also said that, to date, the government is under its budget for its expenses for the festival, which ends in New Providence in May. The government initially estimated it would cost $9 million to launch the festival.

“We’re ready, everything here is on time, and under budget,” he said. “We’re coming in way under what we thought we’d have to spend. We did it last year for the world relays, you’re going to see it again for this, and these things become institutionalised events. Every year you can anticipate the same time doing it again, so that forward planning is going to lend in the future to improve readiness, greater sales, greater productivity, but ultimately you’re really recreating an industry that you own.”

He added: “This event, this idea, this whole aspect of taking Bahamian culture to the world is really about ownership, leadership and an industry in which we have a competitive advantage. It (Freeport) used to be called the Magic City because everyone went there for art and entertainment. This is one of the things we have to bring back to our product. We’ve got to bring back the magic. And the magic is all about telling the story. This story is being told out in art, dance, music, and food.”

The festivities will start at 6pm on Friday at the Cultural Village in Taino Beach, Freeport.

It will start with the preliminary rounds of the Music Masters Semi-Finals song competition, in which 17 contemporary artists will compete live in front of thousands for a chance to be crowned master of the Bahamian sound.

The contestants, who include Grand Bahama’s Terrell Tynes-Wilson and Georgina Ward-Rigby, will perform on stage throughout Friday and Saturday. There also will be performances from Jay Mitchell, T-Connection, as well as a group dance off, workout sessions, and game tournaments, officials said.

Then on Saturday, from midnight to 6am, attendants will experience the Midnight Rush, a mini-Junkanoo parade open to public participation.

From 11am onwards, participants will experience the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Beach Party.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville also expressed optimism that the two-day festivities will have a “trickle-down effect” on the economy in Grand Bahama, from hotel rooms to local restaurants and other businesses in the tourism sector.

“It’s bigger than politics,” he said. “It’s about us in Grand Bahama working tougher with a unified force to turn the economy around. It’s not a one shot deal, this is something that is going to happen year round. Everyone is going to get a little piece of the pie.”

“We’re the best in brand, best in class in many respects as a touristic destination, but everyone gets sun, sand and sea now and for about for half our price,” Dr Johnson added. “So we are thinking as a government, we wanted to fully support, we’re fully behind this movement that we could become number one, we could take ownership, be a leader, we could recreate our industry by using this platform to get young Bahamians and middle aged Bahamians, on the world stage for everybody to see.”

Junkanoo Carnival is also set to take place from May 7-9 in New Providence.