The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) has commenced releasing subsidies to Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival companies, kicking these new business ventures into the costume-manufacturing phase. Promoting entrepreneurship and business development, the BNFC has registered over 29 established companies that have now started to receive some of the needed funds for the Road Fever event in the first Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. Lynette Nixon, founder of the Indigenous Company, said groups are ready to start mass production of their costume offerings.

"This helps us in advertising, promotion and pursuing the general carnival idea," said Nixon. "I want to make sure that the end product of Bahamas Carnival is something that I can be proud of when representing The Bahamas."

Scheduled for May 9 in Nassau, the Road Fever event will be one of many experiences for participants in what is to be an annual festival, promoting all things Bahamian in a new format. The carnival events will showcase Junkanoo, Rake and Scrape, arts and crafts, Bahamian cuisine, visual art, music, dance and more. Roscoe Dames, CEO of the BNFC, said the organization is encouraged by the level of entrepreneurship so far and the artistic creativity among artisans.

"We have so many talented people in the country and this Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will be a platform for many to show their skills," said Dames. "Here at the Bahamas National Festival Commission we are committed to maximizing their exposure. So we are working hard to ensure that they all have the tools they need to be a success and look forward to giving them the opportunity to show this to the world."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian