By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
JUNKANOO Carnival Commission Chairman Paul Major yesterday conceded that he would have liked “to have known by now” the name of the international artist the government will choose to headline Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Mr Major, while confirming that a decision on the headliner has not yet been made, said he would have preferred to know the name of the artist “long before now”.
Mr Major also could not say when the announcement will be made. However, he dismissed the argument that the lack of a decision from the government could have a negative impact on the inaugural festival.
“I would like to have known by now, in fact long before now, but it hasn’t happened, so that’s where we are,” Mr Major said yesterday. “Soon as we get the headliner and we put it out there we need to see how much traffic we get, and I believe we’ll get a lot if we get the right name. So we’re still working on it.”
Mr Major’s statements come just a month before Junkanoo Carnival is scheduled to take place in Grand Bahama in April, and roughly two months before it launches in May in New Providence.
Late last month, Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe told The Tribune that an announcement on the headliner would come within that week. That announcement has not been made, however.
According to published reports, Mr Major has previously admitted that the delay in announcing a headline performer for the event will compromise the commission’s efforts to secure international business.
Mr Wilchcombe has insisted that he is not concerned about the delay, adding that the goal has never been to let an international artist dominate the festival.
“The fact is it’s a Bahamas event featuring Bahamian artists,” Mr Wilchcombe has said. “International artists will not dominate the show. We want Bahamian culture and artists to dominate simply because we’re trying to attract people to the Bahamas to attend the event.”
Last month, 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.
Junkanoo Carnival will be a series of cultural events scheduled to take place in April, in Grand Bahama, and in May, in New Providence.
Officials have indicated it will cost $9m to stage the event. Last month it was revealed that only $1.5m has been spent so far, however.
Previously, Mr Wilchcombe would not confirm reports that the government was trying to lock down Barbadian singer Rihanna to perform at the festival. However, he said, the government was “giving consideration” to “certain names” with which it had been presented.
Comments
Regardless 9 years, 9 months ago
Amateurs.
TalRussell 9 years, 9 months ago
If this is how they handle only1.5 million dollars, may da good Lord Jesus take a liking over da other 8 million dollars in they taxpayers ATM kitty.
Now you see a imaginary Andros insurance policy and now there never was one? I am suggesting that there will never be a signatory to no such performer's contract.
Few Comrade Chairman's of a carnival's committee want their resume to simply read: “Even with 1.5 million dollars of taxpayers ATM monies in hand, he couldn't sign a featured performer foreigner artist." Not even a mere 36 and a half days remaining before da clock runs out when they have to take to stage to sing they first song.
Is there anything more, necessary before concluding how embarrassingly scary Carnival 2015 IS shaping up to present to a world audience? And, the man possess the honesty to public admit to why, even this late in the planning stage that even he couldn't adequately explain why, there is no artist's signature on a Carnival 2015's featured performer's contract.
Admittedly, Comrade taxpayers might not be happy their monies were used to design Outhouses "Potty Toilets" or a Carnival Village that no one has ever seen but they would line up to fund a museum in the small town, known as Nassau Town, that would be named in the honor of the entire Carnival 2015 organizing committee members, including da Rt. Honourabe Prime Minister and his two Honourable Crown's Ministers Obadiah and Danny. A safe place to become the official custodian of all carnival 2015 relics, including them nobody buying Trinidadian sold online Carnival Costumes.
Amen, cuz you couldn't make this how embarrassing to a tiny nation of sweet and easy going natives, stuff up!
John 9 years, 9 months ago
There is a plan in the making to build a $5 billion mall and theme park in South Florida (Miami). This mall will be an expanded version of The Mall of the Americas, which attracts some 60 million tourists a year, 13 million more than Disney World' s 47 million. Cuba is opening up. No time to fall asleep at the tourism steering wheel, especially when millions of taxpayers dollars are at stake.
duppyVAT 9 years, 9 months ago
Paul Major is only a gofer for PGC and Obie .................... he is waiting for those guys to name the headliner. that means we will hear from them after Easter Monday.
This Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is looking more ridiculous by the day ........... F- A - I - L
asiseeit 9 years, 9 months ago
Professionals can see a punk from a mile away and are not willing to put their name on the line for amateurs. The government and the committee are way over their heads, very unorganized, and not up to these acts standards. Once again The Bahamas is looking like a special kid on the short bus, people will give sympathy but they do not want to play with us. That's what happens when you have supposed leaders that can't swim trying to play in the deep end. The only loser's once again are the Bahamian people. Yinna love to take licks hey?
TalRussell 9 years, 9 months ago
Comrades I present for your viewing memories an old clip from the PLP party's archives of times past when the PM and da Pot Cake Leslie were tight.
"Pot cake Leslie captured when he would 'lose himself in the loving arms of da nation's PM's return home, from conducting overseas missionary begging works in China. That is, before da Pot cake, turned against his PM over the, too Trinidadian looking scantly-clad Carnival 2015 ladies."
.........//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d7O0S-XjaU
John 9 years, 9 months ago
But on the other hand what you think would happen if "the tribune" would print tomorrow 's edition with just the date and price on the front page? They may probably sell out. Why? Because the Tribune has an established market of persons who will buy the Tribune anyway. Many will not notice until they sit down to read and others will see it as a collector's item.
ohdrap4 9 years, 9 months ago
And carnival has an established market of persons who will come anyway paul?
Hogfish 9 years, 9 months ago
just put perry up front with a clown costume and there's you headliner right there.
oh wait, no costume necessary!!
ohdrap4 9 years, 9 months ago
he can reuse the emperor outfit.
ObserverOfChaos 9 years, 9 months ago
Does anyone SERIOUSLY believe these buffoon's 1) have the contacts to pull this off? 2) have the budget to actually PAY someone to do a performance!?!?!?! Hahahahahahahaha....hey i have a bridge to sell in Exuma if you do...
John 9 years, 9 months ago
The thing is too there are many dragsters in the music/entertainment industry. Many Bahamian promoters have lost thousands paid to "agents" of entertainers who later disappeared into thin air. Other entertainers showed up but refused to perform unless outrageous demands made at the last minute were met. At the ninth hour there may be the need to invest more heavily in local talent and give them sufficient lead time to purchase proper equipment for the event.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 9 months ago
Ta Da please. She is amazing!!
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 9 months ago
Papa!?!?!? Sicko you gotta get over this crush you have on Hubert Ingraham man. You only person still talking about him.... What up wit dat man? He do ya ma hey?
duppyVAT 9 years, 9 months ago
No need for you as an FNM to get upset with the General .................. sadly many FNMs are secretly wishing for the return of PAPA because they really do not see how the present leadership team will be ready for 2017.
ED 9 years, 9 months ago
Between PLP and FNM, it is only about choosing the lesser of two evils at this point! And at this point we have a much clearer idea on who has done the most damage throughout the years to our beloved country and its future. After so much scum and the more recent discoveries with BAMSI, how much more proof do we need that will allow us to understand that this government does not have our best interest at heart. How much more foolishness is going on that we don't know about...yet. It depresses and sickens me when I hear of yet another scandal swept under the rug with no one held accountable. Sadly, me and mine are already planning our way out, because this country is for them and theirs only, there is no future for our children here.
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