One of the shakcs of the Prodigal Sons Junkanoo group in ruins following the passage of hurricane Matthew. (Photo: Torrell Glinton)

Hurricane Matthew has created a problem for some Junkanoo groups, whose shacks and costumes were damaged or destroyed in the storm.

"We had damage to all three of our major shacks," said Keith Mason Jr., leader of the Music Makers Junkanoo group yesterday.

"Not only that, but the shack where we were housing our main five... costumes for [the] Boxing Day parade is extensively damaged.

"As a matter of fact, we can not use those pieces at all; they will have to be reconstructed..."

Mason fears the group may have to sit out the Boxing Day or New Year's Day parade due to the lack of funds and time.

"It's been heavily on my mind that we might have to sit out one of the parades because a group like ours right now where we are scrapping to get sponsorship, it's very difficult to rebuild without the kind of funding that is required," he said.

Mason estimated the group suffered around $22,000 in damage to costumes and shacks.

Eric Knowles, leader of the Prodigal Sons, also expressed concerns over the group's ability to recover from the losses caused by the storm.

"We lost three shacks," Knowles said.

"The main one was in Yellow Elder and that is totally on the ground.

"Every single thing in that was destroyed.

"The truth of the matter is right after last year's parade we never stopped working.

"We were working and we were planning right up to a week before the hurricane hit, trying to complete our Boxing Day banner, but we lost a lot of stuff.

"We had stuff in plastic, already decorated with feathers on."

Knowles said along with the countless amount of money and time lost in costumes, the group also lost several instruments in the storm.

He said the group is in dire need of help.

"We won't get back what we lost, but we will make an attempt," Knowles said.

"My hope is that we can try to get everybody together and hopefully by the end of this month we can put up at least half of the shack.

"Once we get that done, we can then spend the next six or seven weeks preparing costumes for the parade.

"I know it's going to be difficult, but we don't give up easily."

One Family also suffered considerable loss as a result of Hurricane Matthew, according to Darren Bastian, a member of the group, who said he was not speaking in an official capacity.

"We have received considerable damage to at least 80 percent of our costumes," Bastian said. We have had in many of our shacks considerable challenges, including roof leakage.

"We have major work that has to start all over again."

Bastian said the damage the group received puts the success of its program in jeopardy.

He said it could be difficult to preserve the integrity of the parades if groups, which are also aiding in hurricane relief, do not receive new sponsorship.

"We are already halfway through October and we are talking about damage to months and months and months of work already," he said.

"Even now with sponsorship being cut back, that puts a greater strain on our ability to produce the vast performance that we are used to on Bay Street because there is less money to deal with. Now you have less time to produce those costumes."

Free National Movement Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis donated $7,000 to Shell Saxons Superstars and $2,000 to the Valley Boys on Tuesday during a press conference at his office on Parliament Street.

Sloan Smith, Guardian Staff Reporter

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