Culture Minister: “This Bill Isn’t To Disband Anyone”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – After public pushback of a proposed National Junkanoo Authority Bill, Culture Minister Mario Bowleg responds, calling growing concerns misguided.

Mario Bowleg – Minister, Youth, Sports and Culture

“ Junkanoo should [no longer] be considered as just a parade for competition…[it] should be looked at it as an international institution to bring…economic, financial…benefit to those who [are] involved in Junkanoo,” he said.

Imagine Junkanoo not just as a parade but as a thriving, year-round cultural industry.

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg says that’s the vision behind the National Junkanoo Authority bill, which is now open for public consultation.

While speaking to reporters outside the House of Assembly this morning, Bowleg addressed growing pushback, particularly from the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence, which has since suspended all Junkanoo-related activities.

Bowleg says their concerns are misguided:

“ This bill in no way form or fashion is to disband any Junkanoo corporation that exists in any family island. This is the work in collaboration with…corporations and associations for the greater good and betterment of Junkanoo,” he said.

The Culture Minister says the authority would serve as a centralized body capable of securing international funding, expanding programming, and taking government hands out of the day-to-day operations.

“ If you read the bill, you will find out that the authority will be in a greater position to have more funding involved in the authority, that will also help lift Junkanoo to the next level. “

“…Those who are [in] New Providence or…the family islands can receive much more funding,” Bowleg said.

Despite the pushback, the Culture Minister says the proposed bill has also received some positive feedback.

“ There are much more persons in Junkanoo and in the JCNP…who have personally called me, that have agreed to this bill…,” he said.