Local band owners are frustrated over the organization of the second annual Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. No one wants a repeat of the confusion, shortcomings and financial losses of the first installment.
Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association (BCBOA) President Dario Terrelli noted that the festival is almost upon us, yet key details concerning the event are still unknown, including who will headline the main concert, the budget for the festival and all the events that will lead up to the road march. These concerns are echoes of the carnival of 2015.
Though the first installment was declared a success by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), when the Bahamas National Festival Commission headed by Paul Major was asked to give the public an accounting, it initially was evasive and defensive.
Eventually, Major confirmed what most suspected all along: The government failed to secure a reasonable financial return on its investment.
The commission claimed, however, that though the treasury lost millions, the total direct economic activity generated for Bahamian businesses was considerable.
The commission claimed that the cultural impact and room for growth are reasons to be highly optimistic of what the event will be to the country in the future. This, in their minds, may be enough to declare the inaugural Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival a success.
However, at a time when the multibillion-dollar Baha Mar project remains mired in disaster, adding thousands more to the ranks of the unemployed, the loss of nearly $6 million is nothing to sneeze at.
This significant shortfall was blamed on a lack of international sponsorship revenue, which was projected at $5 million, and ticket sales, which did not materialize as the headliner was not announced until the 11th hour and many tickets were bundled together and given away.
Fast forward to preparations for the 2016 installment.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe said last month that spending could be slashed by two thirds, but he later admitted that a budget had yet to be confirmed.
With the festival only weeks away, no further comprehensive update has been issued.
Considering the consequences of poor planning the last time around, we would have expected the organizers to have learned the appropriate lessons to ensure that their financial house was in order long before now.
Have they secured international sponsorship and headliners? Have they launched an international public relations campaign to attract visitors to the festival? If so, according to what budget?
Carnival will only be successful if it is organized properly and that is done so well ahead of the event. Last minute piecing it together will lead to the same problems that occurred last year.
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