Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg said the Prodigal Sons Junkanoo group must provide a decent reason for dropping out of the Boxing Day parade or reimburse the seed money provided by the government.
Mr Bowleg said the group did not immediately explain their action.
“It does raise some concerns,” he said. “I have asked the JCNP chair and the representative of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture who deals with Junkanoo to investigate and provide me with more information as it relates to their reasoning. I could understand last year when their shack was burned and they lost everything, but this year, I’ve yet to get the reasoning for it.
“These Junkanoo groups cannot just take the seed money and decide they’re not coming. There has to be some responsibility with the government’s funds provided to them. I expect them to provide a decent response and if not say how they will reimburse the government.”
Category A groups like the Prodigal Sons received $30,000 from the $928,500 in seed money the government provided this year.
Eric Knowles, the group leader, did not respond to messages and calls yesterday.
In November, he told The Tribune his group wanted to dazzle attendees after a fire destroyed its shack last year, consuming dozens of drums, costumes and materials.
“You know, when you have a God and a few good friends, we have been able to put things together,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we have completed one-half of our shack. We were able to get BPL to come and turn the lights back on after trying to get it on for quite some time.”
Comments
bahamianson 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Well for one, the parade would have been an hour longer
ThisIsOurs 10 months, 3 weeks ago
This is the last you'll hear about it.
"could understand last year when their shack was burned and they lost everything, but this year, I’ve yet to get the reasoning for it."
Once heard a story about a worker who burned down a building to avoid an audit. They have to have greater accountability handing out this kind of money. "t burn down" isnt good enough.
TalRussell 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Certainly two consecutively --- 'No Rushes' --- Should've resulted in a call up from a Minister of the Crown for an immediate --- Sit down as to a future $60,000 --- Gov't Funds Ceasefire. --- Just cannot duck by making up excuses for such outlays of The Colony's PublicPurse's monies. --- Yes?
sheeprunner12 10 months, 3 weeks ago
If these Junkanoo groups are correct in their estimates that it takes at least 250K to 500K to bring an A group to Bay Street ...... Then why is Govt only giving 30K and trying to hogtie a group over it?
These politicians are shameless.
ThisIsOurs 10 months, 3 weeks ago
They exaggerate just like the politicians. The average junkanoo person is likely spending 800 or less on their costume. To someone earning near minimum wage, yes that 500-800 will be a sacrifice. When someone pays 3500 on a costume, that costume will be decked out with beads and feathers and likely 1/3 of the cost is what they paid someone else to make and decorate it. The lion's share of a fancy costume is feathers then beads. If those are minimal, and they decorated themselves, they spent less than 500.
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