Govt parade move ‘to cost JCNP $1m’

The Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) has expressed deep frustration over the government’s decision to revoke its authority to manage the annual Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades. This move, described as profoundly unfair, is projected to result in nearly $1 million in losses and damages for the organization. In a strongly worded letter to Youth, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg, JCNP Chairman Dion Miller highlighted the severe financial and operational repercussions of the decision. The corporation estimates losses of $747,000, including unpaid sponsorship fees from ALIV and Commonwealth Brewery, as well as $57,000 recently invested in upgrading its scoring system. The abrupt shift in control has also jeopardized long-standing sponsorship agreements and undermined years of collaboration between the JCNP and the government. Miller issued a seven-day ultimatum for the ministry to reverse its decision, warning that failure to do so would compel the JCNP to organize its own private parades in 2025 and 2026. This could lead to a historic showdown, with four separate Junkanoo parades instead of the traditional two, as major groups like the Saxons, One Family, and Roots rally under the JCNP’s banner. The Valley Boys, a prominent Junkanoo group, have split their support, with one faction backing the JCNP and the other aligning with the government. Corporate sponsors have reportedly advised that private parades are the only viable option to avoid breaching existing contracts if the ministry persists with its decision. Miller emphasized that the government provides no direct funding to the JCNP, leaving the organization financially vulnerable. Despite the escalating tensions, the JCNP remains committed to preserving Junkanoo as a cornerstone of Bahamian culture, striving to ensure its celebration reflects fairness and excellence. The corporation also criticized the ministry for allegedly abandoning a prior agreement reached during a September 9 meeting attended by key government officials, including Minister Bowleg and Attorney General Ryan Pinder. The JCNP dismissed a ministry-cited poll as unrepresentative, claiming that longstanding Junkanoo groups were excluded from the process. Miller concluded by urging the ministry not to obstruct its efforts to host private parades, invoking Minister Bowleg’s own statement that private parades are permissible in a free country.