Dear Editor,
THE 2009-2010 JUNKANOO SEASON CONTINUES TO BE MIS-MANAGED BY THIS F.N.M. GOVERNMENT. THE MANY VENDORS AT THE JUNIOR JUNKANOO PARADES WERE AMONG THOSE PEOPLE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE POOR MANAGEMENT OF JUNKANOO THEY JOIN THEIR VOICES IN PROTEST WITH THE JUNKANOO GROUPS STILL LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP, AND THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC, WHO HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THIS GOVERNMENT SEEMS UNABLE TO EVEN ORGANIZE THE SALE OF TICKETS.
WHEN THE BAHAMIAN PUBLIC THOUGHT THAT THE POOR MANAGEMENT COULD NOT GET ANY WORSE, IT INDEED HAS!
WHILE WE CONTINUE TO SALUTE AND CONGRATULATE OUR YOUTH AND IN ADVANCE OUR SENIOR JUNKANOO PARTICIPANTS ON THEIR TREMENDOUS EFFORT AND COMMITMENT, WE FEEL IT IMPORTANT THAT THIS GOVERNMENT, AS THE ORGANIZERS OF THESE WONDERFUL PARADES, SHOULD AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO MATCH THE PROFICIENCY AND INITIATIVE OF THE JUNKANOO COMMUNITY.
THE F.N.M. HAS CONGRATULATED THE CURRENT MINISTER FOR”HIS WONDERFUL MANAGEMENT OF THIS YEARS JUNIOR JUNKANOO PARADES”. MAYBE THEY MIGHT ASK THE PATRONS ,VENDORS AND PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTENDED THE EVENT IF THEY AGREE ! THE EMPTY SEATS AND LACK OF PARTICIPANTS, RESULTED IN HUGE LOSSES FOR THE MANY VENDORS WHO WERE ACCUSTOMED TO MAKING HANDSOME PROFITS FROM THIS EVENT.
UNDER THE FORMER P.L.P.GOVERNMENT BOTH SEED AND PRIZE MONEY WAS DOUBLED; LIABILITY INSURANCE TO THE TUNE OF $5 MILLION DOLLARS WAS PUT IN PLACE FOR SPECTATORS, WORKERS AND PARTICIPANTS AT THE PARADE .
IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN THAT THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER , THE RT. HON. PERRY G. CHRISTIE TOOK THE TIME TO FIND MAJOR SPONSORSHIP FOR MAJOR JUNKANOO GROUPS AND CONTINUES EVEN TODAY TO ASSIST IN RAISING FUNDS FOR OUR MAJOR CULTURAL PASTIME, JUNKANOO.
WE CRY SHAME ON THIS GOVERNMENT AS THEY HAVE NOW TAKEN THE SIMPLE PROCESS OF SELLING JUNKANOO TICKETS AND CREATED A NIGHTMARE OF MAJOR PROPORTIONS. WHAT A FIASCO! BAHAMIANS ARE NOW FIGHTING TO GET JUNKANOO TICKETS. WE NOTE FROM PRESS REPORTS THAT THE POLICE HAD TO BE CALLED IN TO ASSIST IN ESTABLISHING ORDER AFTER DISGRUNTLED AND DISCOURAGED PATRONS COULD NOT GET “CHOICE SEATS “ FOR THE PARADE EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMTS TO PURCHASE TICKETS. THIS WAS AFTER THE MINISTER HIMSELF ASSURED THE BAHAMIANS WHO BRAVED INCLEMENT WEATHER LAST WEEK TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY THAT THEY COULD.
WE CONTEND THAT THIS GOVERNMENT’S INABILITY TO MANAGE OUR LARGEST CULTURAL EVENT , FUTHER DEMONSTRATES THEIR INABILITY TO MANAGE THIS COUNTRY.
NEVER-THE-LESS WE CONTINUE TO HOPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL SET OF SENIOR PARADES AND WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO ASSIST THE JUNKANOO COMMUNITY.
