By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE revenue and economic impact figures for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will “hopefully” be released next week, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Danny Johnson said yesterday.
When asked about the matter, Dr Johnson said the anticipated report was still being finalised.
“Hopefully next week that should be out,” Dr Johnson told The Tribune as he left a Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Bahamian singer Kirkland “KB” Bodie has blasted the government for the length of time it has taken to release the report. In a scathing statement released to the media this week, Mr Bodie claimed the government will likely “cook the books in their favour” when the report is made public.
The outspoken entertainer also called the government a bunch of “jokey leaders” who only branded Junkanoo Carnival as a success because “they see Bahamians as fools who only see in political rally numbers.”
He further criticised Dr Johnson for his “deceptive and sophomoric play on words” despite supposing to be “the keeper of our Bahamian culture.”
Last month, Bahamas Nassau Festival Commission (BNFC) Chairman Paul Major said he would reveal the revenue and economic impact figures for carnival in 21 days. That self-imposed deadline has long passed.
Reports have since circulated pegging the overall cost for carnival at $12 million, as opposed to the $9 million the government initially budgeted for the event. Attempts to get Mr Major to verify the report yesterday were unsuccessful up to press time.
Meanwhile, Mr Bodie, who has been an outspoken critic of carnival, resumed his verbal assault on the festival’s organisers.
“Our leaders should be ashamed of themselves,” he said in a letter sent to The Tribune. “They are ‘jokey.’ Yes, we have ‘jokey leaders’, especially (Dr Johnson). He is supposed to be the keeper of our Bahamian culture, yet he changes his story over and over. The media can go back and trace his deceptive and sophomoric play on words, it’s all documented and recorded for all to see and hear.”
He added: “I just wish we could trade them in for foreign leadership. If they don’t believe in us, why should we ever believe in them?”
“This whole carnival venture was a waste. This could have been done at less of a cost to the taxpayers and would have garnered more attendees if the committee had only listened to the majority of voices and removed the word carnival in the first place. This was not a successful event although all of the spin-doctors claimed it was.
“The government branded this event a success because they see Bahamians as fools who only see in political rally numbers.
“ . . .Time will tell when, and if, they bring the forensic report on the carnival, that they have promised to bring to the public some time ago. I am sure that they will cook the books in their favour.”
The event was staged over two days in Grand Bahama in April and from May 7-9 in New Providence.
Mr Major earlier predicted $50m to $60m in economic impact, with organisers forecasting an economic boost for the country resulting from the significant number of tourists travelling to the Bahamas for the event.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 6 months ago
Looks like that's the end of Carnival in the Bahamas.
PLP. The only thing you can rely on with them is for them to fail....
Unbelievable... They literally can't do anything right!! How is that even possible? Even a broken clock is right twice a day....
TalRussell 9 years, 6 months ago
Comrades the mainstream media who I have accused of practicing stenographer reporting about all things leading up to and after Carnival 2015, should know that there was no way in economic reality any government should have spent anywhere near 12 million dollars hard earned taxpayers monies to hold an island nation's mini style Carnival 2015.
I have been repeating for months leading up to Carnival 2015, that taxpayers actually paid for design plans with all intentions to build specially designed potty "outside" toilets, yet no reporter has ever asked Ministers Danny and Obediah or Paul Major, if what I was claiming was a damn lie? To understand why 12 million was spent, you must first get a grasp on them architecturally designed outside toilets. It is da whole truth they actually had outside toilets plans drawn up that was claimed be the toilets envy of all the Caribbean. Yes, it all was recorded on tape.
asiseeit 9 years, 6 months ago
Tal, you think any reporters in The Bahamas could INVESTIGATE anything? You think they could "DIG" into a story? JOKES! With all the stupidness and corruption in this country they can not bring one example of investigative journalism to the table, something like the "Fleecing of America" series. Not a chance, they to lazy!
TalRussell 9 years, 6 months ago
Goodbye, Jiéhé fāshì méiyǒu shìsú zhǔ/Bound swear no earthly master. Comrade Asiseeit tis why I called them all bunch stenographer reporters, presuming you knows the meaning? I hear talk from da boardrooms that The Tribune not wanting ruffles the PLP's lashing-out feathers will soon change ownership hands? So, no big deal them. Talk of it being financed by the Chinese, Shirley & Deveux property, reporters and all?
duppyVAT 9 years, 6 months ago
THE REAL QUESTION TO ASK IS:................. HOW WILL ANYONE BE ABLE TO VERIFY THE NUMBERS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT???????
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 6 months ago
Whatever number they come up with, add in the 800k thank you note to Craig Flowers
B_I_D___ 9 years, 6 months ago
Can't even send the PAC after them apparently...they'll just write another report to cover their backsides or debunk the damning report.
Sickened 9 years, 6 months ago
I can't believe Brave Davis hasn't finished 'fixin' this report yet. What is taking him so long???
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 6 months ago
Lol. Everyone is calling him the "go to" man. Mr Fix-everything but what he supposed to be fixin', a.k.a. Ministry Of Works
asiseeit 9 years, 6 months ago
The fact is most right thinking Bahamians will not believe what the final report has to say. Who would be fool enough to believe anything the Government of The Bahamas has to say at this point? Not me that is for sure.
duppyVAT 9 years, 6 months ago
Correction .......... a PGC-led PLP government ............. we cannot become disillusioned in governance .............. its a dangerous mindset
MaLambee 9 years, 6 months ago
And who was in charge of this mess. Once a thief always a thief.. If I were escorted from a banking job in handcuffs and then put in charge of the public purse.. what do you expect. Another cruel joke to the Bahamian residents
duppyVAT 9 years, 6 months ago
And let me guess who that is............ hmmmmmmmmmmm ......... is that the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival committee chairman and chief advocate of its positive impact (in the amount of $60 million) on our economy?????
Honestman 9 years, 6 months ago
What the people want to know is how many tourist dollars flowed into the country as a result of the event and how did that compare to the public money that was spent? The first will be hard to quantify but from the pictures I have seen and persons I have spoken to, the crowd was substantially local. If most of the event revenue came from Bahamians then that is money that local shops, restaurants etc were deprived of. In that case the event would have produced no economic benefit whatsoever. No doubt government will put its usual spin on things and have the report read like it was one huge success. The country is getting quite weary now of this administration's attempts to convince us of an alternative reality, just like Keith Bell claiming great successes are being made in the war on crime.
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