Weather may have hit turnout as Carnival attendance almost halves

The crowd at Carnival in Grand Bahama last year.

As of Tuesday, April 19, 2016

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AN estimated 16,000 people attended this year’s Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in Grand Bahama, resulting in a significant decline compared to last year’s turnout of 30,000.

In a press statement issued by carnival officials, police estimated that approximately 4,000 spectators turned out on Friday and 12,000 on Saturday.

It is believed that inclement weather on Friday may have resulted in the lower turnout for the opening day.

Carnival officials were satisfied with the overall outcome of the event. There were no incidents of violence as police and security teams were out in full force at the Cultural Village.

“Anytime we have such a mega and major event as this, we always prepare for any and every eventuality, but we were prepared, weather or not. So because of our preparation and the execution of those preparations it contributed to a successful weekend,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour.

An air show, which was a new component this year, drew persons of all ages to the Cultural Village.

Nuvolari Chootosingh, Ministry of Tourism manager of sports tourism, was pleased with the turnout.

“The air show was absolutely phenomenal. I think the crowd was really excited about it, even with the weather it did not deter them whatsoever. Next year is going to be bigger and more exciting,” he said.

Carnival officials were also pleased with the support and participation the event received from corporate Grand Bahama in the Beach Olympics, despite the rain.

Officials also commended the local artists, including Stileet, Geno D, Julien Believe, D-Mac, Visage, Ronnie Butler, and Jay Mitchell and guest artists Jack Nasty, Olatunji, King Bubba, Ricardo Drue, Fadda Fox, and Shurwayne Winchester, for the great concert performances.

Ginger Moxey, event coordinator, said: “It was an awesome weekend. We could not ask for anything more. Grand Bahama did it again, proving that we are a community that is prepared to come together for the economic benefit of [the] island.”

Eight finalists, and ten songs, will be moving on to the final round of the 2016 Music Masters competition in Nassau, where contestants will battle for the $20,000 grand prize and a chance of a lifetime, to go on a local and international promotional tour.

They will share the grand stage with Bahamian acts D Mac and Visage, along with Grammy Award winner Wyclef Jean and Trinidadian soca artist Destra.

Carnival is scheduled for May 5-7 in Nassau.

timchuck 8 years ago

It sounds like a waste of money to me

John 8 years ago

weather may have played a part, but the carnival was DOA (dead on arrival). There was hardly any promotion internationally (which was suppose to be the big inflow of money, there was confusion over the headliner (at one point there was not to be any) and the carnival bands are at odds with the organizers. One would expect more harmony and better organization in this the second year of the event. And yes, more tourist participation.

Publius 8 years ago

Did anyone notice that the Tribune ran two stories by the same writer on this same event, with a difference in attendance of thousands of people between both stories?

ThisIsOurs 8 years ago

I saw about 10 caucasian individuals on TV. I assumed they were tourists by the completely uncoordinated movements they were making to the music. But the BNFC tells me that tourists "don't all look or fit one profile", so I suspect there must have been at least 15,000 to 20,000 tourists out there., because Bahamians don't like rain.

MonkeeDoo 8 years ago

Carnal Junkanoo is a bust and waste of my money !

John 8 years ago

I would be anxious to know what exactly is in the Carnival's $7 million budget. There has been little advertising, and the carnival bands claim they got no seed money this year. Are they buying costumes for friends and family again, flying them (and lovers) to Freeport, and having private parties at your expense?. Im sure you also would like to know

avidreader 8 years ago

My dear fellow, it may be a waste of "your" money but you can rest assured that somebody is making money from it. While it is true that in many parts of the world people flock to almost any type of public display of loud music and "dancing", with our country in the difficult circumstances in which it finds itself at present, such displays are quite obviously unnecessary from a national point of view. Those making money from Carnival will disagree with my position but then they have a motivation to feel as they do.

proudloudandfnm 8 years ago

19 million spent on carnival to date.

No way we ever see a return on that....

No way....

Voltaire 8 years ago

Pfft! Return? What is that?

Mayaguana34 8 years ago

Waste of Money and Time - Simple call to the only real hotel on the island would have confirmed that they had less than 50% occupancy and most of that were the friends family and lovers flown in from Nassau by the Government - SMFT!!!

sheeprunner12 8 years ago

GOD DOESN'T LIKE UGLY .............. THIS FAKE CARNIVAL IS UGLY AS HELL

Publius 8 years ago

Funny how people keep claiming God doesn't like ugly while at the same time continuing to claim that He keeps making it. After all these eons, I'd think that if He really didn't like it, He's stop making what He doesn't like!

sheeprunner12 8 years ago

God punishes ugly ........... that is not funny at all

Wideawake 8 years ago

Bring back Bahamas Goombay Summer!!!!! June, July and August, many weekly small events, all over The Bahamas, cook-outs, beach parties, sports events, open-air concerts with Bahamian artist only, People to People Church services, ocean swim races, karaoke contests, special events at all tourist attractions, hotels featuring Bahamian Cuisine nights with live local entertainment, dance contests, art shows, Bahamian Art and History events, beauty pageants, ogly pageants!!, rake n scrape, hump and wind, shake n quake, even the fattest ass contest!!

Our culture, our small scale Bahamian entrepreneurs doing the work and getting to keep the profits, no mega million budget for Political Cronies to feast off of, just Bahamians doing all the things that they know how to do best, getting down with the tourists dem and sharing the the best of what we have to offer in terms of food, music, dance, beach parties and fun!!!!

No Tits and Feathers, no Air-f####ng, just good old fashioned Bahamian Hospitality in Goombay OVERDRIVE giving all our visitors THE TIME OF THEIR LIFE!!!! Yes, then they will come back!

Sometimes the solution is so simple it's staring you in the face!

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