The Nassau Guardian
USA Today readers vote Junkanoo top Caribbean celebration
As the government prepares to introduce the Bahamas Carnival next year, the country’s premier culture festival, Junkanoo, was voted as the top Caribbean celebration, according to USA Today.
Junkanoo beat out Trinidad Carnival, which placed a distant second.
The ratings are based on the votes cast in an online poll that ran for four weeks on the USA Today “10 Best” online website.
“The iconic Bahamas street parade known as Junkanoo has uncertain origins, but there's no doubt it was a favorite with our readers, who voted it to a comfortable first place finish,” said the article.
Finishing with the third highest number of votes was the Crop Over Festival in Barbados.
Other listed festivals include the Soul Beach Music Festival in Aruba, Christmas Festivities in Puerto Rico, St. Patrick’s Day in Montserrat, Carnival in St. Thomas, the Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine and Food Festival in Mexico, the Ironman Triathlon in St. Croix and the Tobago Heritage Festival.
Junkanoo received the top vote as the government continues to take some criticism over its decision to introduce the Bahamas Carnival in May 2015. Some observers have called on the government to abandon its plans to start up the local carnival, citing various reasons. However, much of the criticism surrounding the proposed Bahamas Carnival has been leveled based on concerns of cultural identity.
Bahamian artist Kirkland Bodie said in a recent letter to the editor that he is “offended by the proposition of a Bahamian carnival”.
“Many have sacrificed their lives and livelihoods to uplift this country’s culture,” he said. “All of the hard work done to instill national pride back into our people’s lives have been flushed away by the laziness and ‘copycatness’ of a few and only shows the weakness and lack of ideas by our nation’s leaders.”
However, the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) said if the detractors of the festival give it a chance, they will see “that the Bahamas Carnival, a festival of events encompassing music, dance, fashion, food, art and Junkanoo, will deliver an enviable collage of Bahamian culture.
“… Operating in a global context does not dilute our culture; it simply provides a vehicle for it to be exposed to a wider audience, as artists like ‘K.B.’ have proven, and to provide commercial opportunities for cultural entrepreneurs.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie said previously that the Bahamas Carnival will not take anything away from Junkanoo.
“When I articulated a vision that has caused a lot of controversy in the community about a carnival, there is nobody in public life with my commitment to Junkanoo,” he said earlier this month in Grand Bahama during the opening of full service destination and project management company Immerse Bahamas.
He said the new platform will create job stimulation and have a significant impact on the economy.
Also speaking on the topic last month, Christie noted that Junkanoo has failed to allow the artisans who practice it to make money.
Christie said up to $90 million will be injected into the country's economy in the first three years of hosting the Bahamas Carnival.
He said a report from the BNFC, detailing the projected economic impact of the festival, projects that there will be an operating expense in 2015 of $9 million and revenue of $7.5 million.
“But it also speaks about an economic impact of $27 million in the first year, $30 million in the second year and $33 million in the third year,” he said.
The Bahamas Carnival will include a midnight rush, an all-star Bahamian concert and a street party dubbed “Road Fever”.
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