The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE City of Freeport Council’s 19th Junior Junkanoo Parade was a huge success and officials are looking forward to even more schools participating next year.

Monique Leary, cultural affairs officer at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said the ministry is committed to making the Junior Junkanoo programme thrive in Grand Bahama.

“We had a total of 29 schools participating in this year’s event. Next year we are looking to grow to about 34 to 35 schools,” Ms Leary said on Monday, as the unofficial results of the parade were announced.

The winners in the various divisions were announced at 4.30pm. Growing Years Preschool was the unofficial winner in the pre-school division with a total of 2,078 points. The pre-school took first place in all categories - best banner, costume, music, dance, originality, and general impression.

Some eight pre-schools participated this year. In second place is Letty’s Paradise Preschool with 1,730 points; Kindercare Learning Centre was third with 1,683 points; fourth place was Hampton Academy Preschool with 1,418 points; Rising Stars Christian Academy was fifth with 1,254 points; National Academy was sixth with 1,230 points; Martin Town Preschool was seventh with 1,138 points, and St John’s Christian Academy was eighth with 896 points.

In the primary division, Martin Town Primary took first place with 3,911 points; West End Primary was second with 3,745 points; Mary Star of the Sea was third with 3,294 points; and Holmes Rock Primary was fourth with 2,982 points.

In the all-age division, Bishop Michael Eldon is the unofficial winner with 3,970 points. The school won in all five categories - originality, costume, music, dance, and general impression. The Beacon School took second place with 3,248 points; third place was Hampton Academy with 1,746 points; and fourth was Lucaya International School with 1,133 points.

In the junior division, Sister Mary Patricia Russell Jr High School won with 3,675 points and second was Jack Hayward High with 3,335 points.

In the secondary division, St Georges High was the unofficial winner with 4,242 points; Eight Mile Rock High was second with 4,117 points, and Total Education Centre was third with 1,270 points.

On behalf of the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, Mrs Leary thanked all the schools, coordinators, support staff and other stakeholders, including the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Committee, and the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

City of Freeport Chief Councillor Kendal Culmer commended all of the schools for putting on a great show for fans.

“It was one of the best parades I have seen in a very long time, and all of the schools are winners,” he said.

Mr Culmer said the council would look at getting the budget increased for Junior Junkanoo in anticipation of greater participation from schools.