Prime Minister Perry Christie dismissed the criticism over capital spending on Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and insisted that the festival will have a "significant impact" on the economy. Christie told The Nassau Guardian that carnival has also created new business opportunities for the carnival bands.

"They're not in it for social purposes," he said.

"They're in it because they know this can be a hugely successful economic thing for them.

"This is a major cultural intervention into the economy and I don't think people remember but the portfolio of The Bahamas has changed from tourism to tourism and cultural industries and that is because of the fixed position I have taken."

Christie said cultural tourism is a multibillion-dollar industry that is not properly exploited in the Caribbean.

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

While the figure would be down significantly from last year's spend, several critics have accused the government of wasting money.

Although it budgeted $9 million, the government spent $12.9 million on carnival in 2015.

Last week, Bahamian entertainer Kirkland "KB" Bodie said he will not support carnival and predicted the festival will fail because the government is "making the same mistakes it made during the inaugural event".

Despite criticisms from Bodie and others, Christie said he remains enthusiastic about carnival.

"I have not had my enthusiasm and my understanding diminished at all," he said. "In fact, I am more encouraged to believe that we are going to have new artists who are going to be singing and some of them, we believe, are going to be recording stars.

"We think that it is going to happen because we're dedicating resources to make it happen. We have to fight through the politics of this.

"From my point of view, it is just a part of the cultural offering we are engaged in... I expect this Junkanoo carnival that we talk about to have a significant impact. I also expect from a cultural industry point of view that many stars will be born."

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

The line up of artists include renowned Trinidadian soca singer Destra; former Fugees rapper Wyclef Jean; Rake and Scrape singer D Mac; Bahamian band Visage; Jamaican reggae artist Tarrus Riley and Cuban singer Laritza, among others

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

Bodie said 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".

By Krystel Rolle-Brown

Guardian Staff Reporter

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian