The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I am FNM. I do not need to quantify that, but I believe the Junkanoo Carnival is a brilliant idea. I am an optimist! Mistakes have been made, but can be corrected. Let us look on the brighter side. This is a Bahamian thing, done by Bahamians.

I have listened to many of the persons who have complained about the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. Of course ninety-nine percent of the people who are voicing their opinions are either really not interested in anything positive, are not global thinkers, want the Bahamas to remain in the dark ages, want to use it as a “political football”. The arguments have nothing to do with patriotism.

I have listened to what was said and also noticed what was not said. The claim that there will be females parading around in a manner to cause otherwise Bahamian men to forget who they are and “rape” the participants because they may be wearing a skimpy costume is ludicrous.

I also listened to Bahamas Carnival Junkanoo committee and am convinced that this is more than costume or Junkanoo. It will have enormous cultural benefits for the country and financial benefits for artists and artisans who have worked hard with no real outlet for displaying their art.

The Junkanoo Carnival Commission has planned a family-oriented Cultural Villages in Freeport and in Nassau to celebrate and display our culture and our hospitality to Bahamians and tourists alike.

The idle talk about foreign musicians also is a smoke screen, because I saw the inclusion of our biggest entertainers, like Baha Men, T-Connection and countless other Bahamian entertainers who negotiated a payday for themselves and to their comfort.

It is time for the pessimist to go on vacation. It is time for positive people who see the glass as half full to step forward and say, let’s go forward, then if all does not go as planned, have their say.

But to kill the baby before it is born is foolish and makes no sense.

It’s God first, family next, and then country.

IVOINE W INGRAHAM

Nassau,

February 12, 2015.