Bahamian entertainer Kirkland "KB" Bodie said he will not support Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival this year and predicted the festival will fail because the government is "making the same mistakes it made during the inaugural event".

Bodie alluded to the fact that Trinidadian soca singer Destra Garcia and former Fugees rapper Wyclef Jean will headline the carnival.

Bahamas National Festival Commission Chairman Paul Major confirmed that the government will spend $7 million on carnival.

Major also confirmed that Destra will be paid $30,000 and Wyclef will receive $70,000.

Bodie said his feelings toward carnival are the same as last year and it is "ridiculous that the Bahamian taxpayers' money would be spent on foreign entertainers when there are many local entertainers who are qualified to headline carnival".

"I'm against Bahamians paying their taxes for foreign artists to perform or headline an event that's supposed to be strictly Bahamian as Prime Minister Perry Christie previously promised," he said.

Bodie said he believes Bahamians were misled by the government because several government officials made that same promise on different occasions and failed to deliver.

Bodie was in the news last year after it was announced that Trinidadian soca singer Machel Montano would headline the inaugural event.

"To hear that the government is spending up to $100,000 on Destra and Wyclef is ridiculous on every level," Bodie said.

Other regional soca artists, including Ricardo Drue, Kerwin Du Bois, Farmer Nappy, Rupee, Fadda Fox, Patrice Roberts, Skinny Fabulous, Bunji Garlin and Lyrikal, have also been confirmed for the three-day event in New Providence.

Among the Bahamian artists scheduled to perform are Julien Believe, Elon Moxey, the Blue Band Connection, Willis and the Illest, Veronica Bishop, Ira Storr, Funky D and Puzzle.

Bodie said although the government plans to spend $7 million on carnival, he doesn't think Bahamian performers will receive even five percent of that money.

"What are the Bahamian artists getting paid? I'm sure it's nothing close to what the foreigners are making..." he said.

[The festival commission] asked me if I wanted to be a part of the show this year and I said until this becomes a completely Bahamian show with only Bahamian artists who are being paid a decent salary... I will not be a part of it.

"I say again... just like last year, carnival will fail."

Carnival 2016 is set to take place on Grand Bahama on April 14-16 and on New Providence on May 5-7.

Simone Davis

Guardian Staff Reporter

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