Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
TOURISM Minister Obie Wilchcombe hopes the government will confirm an international artist to headline the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival this week.
Confirmation on the matter could be just a phone call away, he told The Tribune yesterday.
The minister had hoped to deal with the matter last week, but had other pressing issues to attend to as well.
International stars from Usher to Janet Jackson to Rihanna and Beyonce have all been rumoured to be in talks with the government to headline the festival. Officials have not confirmed or denied such reports, however.
Last week Mr Wilchcombe denied reports that international gospel artists have been added to the line-up.
He revealed at the time that the government is
increasing the amount of seed money it gives to Junkanoo groups to help them prepare for the Junkanoo summer festivals as well as New Year’s Day and Boxing Day parades.
“We are in negotiations right now to increase their money,” he said. “Boxing Day and New Year’s Day will also be increased but that is not my ministry so I cannot say by how much, but I know it will be much more than the $8,000 they are getting now.
“You can never spend too much on the development of culture and Junkanoo,” he added. “I would love to see Junkanoo become a major festival. It is a Broadway show, a show that the entire world should see. It should be presented in a grand way. Junkanoo groups get their seed capital, but that $8,000 or $9,000 is not enough. So we are now looking to ensure that Junkanoo gets the right support financially. We definitely are increasing that money. Junkanoo will get what it deserves.”
Two weeks ago, the Carnival Commission announced the first round of local entertainers, which included J Mitchell, T Connection, Visage and Baha Men.
They are expected to take the stage for the Music Masters concert on May 8.
Comments
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
Comrade Minister Obadiah, I am going ask you one more time in da name Jesus to see Carnival 2015, the way it seen by the 9. 5 million dollars taxpayers millions, who does see all the organizers how they be's falling apart, with all they internal fussin and fightin. They's resigning and re hiring. Even the PM has called them to please come back to work. Even with only weeks to go before launch of Carnival 2015, you inepts still can't sign no foreigner performer's 1.5 million dollars contract? Man that looks so bad, f not pretty damn sad state of management affairs. And it's all being financed by 9.5 million taxpayers monies. Remind me now, who exactly is the finance minister approving all this?
Song written and titled: No, Ministers Obadiah & Danny & Major & Munnings Jr, ain't never goin work this Carnival 2015 things out!
........///https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omovUmbbAgo
duppyVAT 9 years, 8 months ago
Ah Lord ................................ please get some help from the organizers of the Love Fest and the Exuma Heritage Fest ............... they may do a better job than Obie and his boys
John 9 years, 8 months ago
Can someone explain how the "Bahamas Junkanoo carnival" has become so anti Bahamian and Bahamians have become so anti carnival? It's almost like when you and your wife ain't on good terms and she throws a party at your house and only invite her friends and family.
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
Comrade if you don't know the why after the past months of Carnival 2015 blunders, then there can be no explaining sufficiently for play catch-up, before it all starts in mere weeks? This is so bad it requires not one but four cabinet ministers involvement. Namely, the ministers of tourism, culture/sports or whatever in hell he does, the minister finance and the chief minister in the person of the PM himself. All four ministers have proven they are more than capable of taking this brute of defective Carnival 2015 and the taxpayers 9.5 million, to where only they and their committee DON'T even have a clue where it ain't going. how bad is it you have 1. 5 million of taxpayers money and here THEY, cuz this is no we the people thing, and they can only show excuse after excuse for the ridiculous amount money? I mean any ass can spend 1.5 million.
SP 9 years, 8 months ago
.... Bahamas Government Continues 40 Years Vacillating While Cuba Surges Forward ....
http://www.radiorebelde.cu/english/news…
40 years of neglect, favoritism and absolute political stupidity is enough.....No more PLP and FNM dead horses.
We need new leadership if were going to be competitive and relevant in today's tourism resort destination arena.
positiveinput 9 years, 8 months ago
Look at the name, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. From the name where does the Non Bahamian International Artist fit in. Is more like Bahamas Junkanoo/International Music Carnival. Have you ever seen a person carry a church hymn book in a club? So why mix match this event?
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 8 months ago
February 24th and no advertising yet for an event in April...
hmmmm....
Failure..... PLP style....
Honestman 9 years, 8 months ago
Why do we have to copy other cultures? Why don't we concentrate on what WE do best i.e. Junkanoo! We should be trying to make the Year-end Junkanoo experience the best it can be for participants and paying customers. The last two parades fell well short of excellent. We don't need to spend $9 million dollars to bring foreign entertainers into Nassau - it will do nothing to promote Junkanoo or Bahamian culture. The whole concept is totally misguided.
duppyVAT 9 years, 8 months ago
The PLP thinktank aka Obie and the Boys say no-one will come to The Bahamas if we call it Junkanoo ............ so we must call it Carnival?!?!?! We will all judge them by their assumptions after May 9, 2015
asiseeit 9 years, 8 months ago
This whole scheme is just a 9.5 million dollar cookie jar. Why our supposed leaders need to rip off the country in order to "make it" is the same reason they have destroyed the country, they are inept and void of any original idea's.
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