Road Fever, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. (Photo: Ahvia J. Campbell)

Pointing to continued criticisms that Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is nothing more than a "waste of money", Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said a Free National Movement (FNM) government would privatize the event.

Minnis stopped short of definitively stating whether the FNM would cancel carnival, only stating his government would focus more on Bahamian culture and would leave what's "not ours" to the private sector.

"I think the entire thing would be re-looked at, and more private involvement," said Minnis when asked if a Minnis administration would continue the festival conceived by the Christie administration.

"I think privatize it. Let a private entity deal with that. But let me, the government, concentrate on Bahamian culture.

"Let the government concentrate on building our own identity, preparing for the future, so that rake 'n' scrape becomes synonymous with The Bahamas."

Although he refused to say what his personal thoughts on carnival are, Minnis explained he canvassed opinion on the event, and it's clear it needs some "tweaking".

"I have spoken to many Bahamians, especially young Bahamians who were involved in the carnival, and what they've said to me, it's amazing," Minnis said.

"They said, 'You know the carnival, it was good. I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. But I thought it was a waste of money'. That's their response.

"And I asked many more, I said, 'Would you do it again?' And they said, 'I had a lot of fun and I want fun again but it's still a waste of money'. I think we need tweaking on a lot of things."

Asked if he doesn't support carnival, Minnis would only offer: "I didn't say that.

"What I said is, I listened to the young people, what they said to me, 'I had a lot of fun. I want more fun. But I don't think our money was well spent'. And I asked them again, 'Would you want to see it again?' And what they said to me is, 'I had a lot of fun, I like fun, but it's a waste of money'. That's their response."

Minnis said he's more interested in "building our own".

He suggested Junkanoo Carnival isn't Bahamian enough.

"I am Bahamian and I am more into culture. I am more into Bahamian culture. I'm more into seeing a Bahamian cultural explosion. Let's build our identity," Minnis said.

"When I listen to reggae, that's synonymous with Jamaica. When I listen to calypso, that's synonymous with Trinidad... As government, I must concentrate on our own.

"I must concentrate on making the KB, the Nita, the Visage - making their names synonymous with The Bahamas.

"That's what I must concentrate on. I must not concentrate on calypso. I must not concentrate on reggae. That's not me, that's not ours; let's do our own."

The government has been severely criticized for its overspending on the inaugural event last year.

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

The government budgeted $7 million for the event this year.

Despite the significant budget cut, several critics have accused the government of wasting money.

The government has also faced criticisms that Junkanoo Carnival only highlights another country's culture.

Shortly after its creation, critics suggested carnival would "dilute" Bahamian culture.

Many said the government should provide more support to Junkanoo, rather than copy a street festival synonymous with places like Trinidad and Brazil.

Prime Minister Perry Christie has continued to dismiss the criticisms.

At the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Music Masters event on Friday night, Christie said carnival is poised to become a "big event" that will benefit the Bahamian people "mightily".

He labeled the event a work in progress and said it's only going to "get better and better each year".

"I feel that the people now believe that this is here for good," he said.

Dana Smith, Guardian Staff Reporter

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