National

NJC Takes Over Management Of Junkanoo Parades

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Junkanoo world saw no shortage of drama in 2025. What began as internal friction within individual groups, most notably the Valley Boys, soon expanded into a wider battle over who should govern and guide the country’s most celebrated cultural tradition.

Published

2 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Jasmin Brown

For more than 20 years, the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) oversaw the New Providence parades, managing everything from group registration to parade logistics. But growing tensions between the JCNP, the government, and several Junkanoo groups ultimately forced a shift in the way the parades would be administered.

In mid-August, the government launched public consultation on the proposed National Junkanoo Authority Bill, legislation aimed at establishing a permanent national body responsible for overseeing, managing, and promoting Junkanoo across The Bahamas. According to Bahamian historian Dr. Christopher Curry, the bill was intended to unify Junkanoo administration across all islands.

The JCNP, however, strongly opposed the move. Leaders argued that the bill would give the government too much influence over a cultural institution built and sustained by Bahamian communities. Their response stunned the broader Junkanoo world: the JCNP temporarily suspended all Junkanoo-related activities, including rush-outs and practices, halting preparations just months before the major holiday parades.

Weeks later, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg revealed that the government conducted a poll to determine who Junkanoo groups wanted to manage the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades. Of the 21 groups surveyed, Bowleg said 19 supported the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC).

The JCNP disputed those numbers, insisting that 22 groups were registered under its organization, and of that number, 10 supported the JCNP over the NJC. Chairman Dion Miller accused the government of influencing the process and undermining the corporation’s long-standing role.

In the end, the NJC prevailed. In late November, the committee was formally announced as the new body responsible for managing the two major parades. On November 26, the NJC rolled out the official rules and regulations for the upcoming season, marking a significant shift in how the iconic festivals will be organized moving forward.

Culture Minister Mario Bowleg maintained that the government’s involvement would remain limited to financial support, emphasizing that the new framework aims to strengthen Junkanoo, not control it.

After months of public debate, organizational clashes, and community concern, Junkanoo heads into a new era, one shaped by structural change, renewed oversight, and ongoing questions about how the country’s most beloved cultural celebration should be governed.