Carnival has been happening in New Providence longer than you might think. Tomorrow, as they have done many years before, the University of the West Indies' Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management (CHTM) will be "chipping" down the road as they celebrate their annual Caribbean Carnival.
As far as I know, no one has railed against CHTM's Carnival for the thing itself. It's the expressions of myriad Caribbean countries coming together to celebrate a thing that has brought their countrymen together all across the globe. Carnival does that -- it unites people from all cross sections of life and all countries in the region.
The We March group has recently decided to raise up their collective fists against Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. They want it postponed.
They have marched against the government on a number of issues in the past five months. And many of those issues absolutely justify a march.
But, postponing carnival for many stakeholders and foreign ticket holders is not an option. We March has clearly not considered the ramifications of its intentions.
The real issue for most people in the arena of carnival is its annual budget and the possible mismanagement of funds. Bahamians were concerned that despite spending more than $20 million in two years, the country had nothing to show for the investment but pictures, videos and debt.
However, carnival bands and entrepreneurs who built industry around carnival had deeper concerns. And those individuals continue to contend with balancing acrimony and anticipation. However, the government's handling of the people's funds is not their issue, and whatever squandering might one day be uncovered is not their business.
Stephan Rolle, whose company BlueMonkey Bahamas is promoting internationally its travel packages to New Providence for Bahamas Carnival, risks losing everything if carnival were to be postponed -- so do the carnival bands.
"We've exceeded our expectations and have bookings from persons from all across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and as far as Europe, just for Bahamas Carnival. And despite our pleas, moved forward with zero assistance from the government, the Ministry of Tourism or the Bahamas National Festival Commission," said Rolle.
"The interest locally and internationally for Bahamas Carnival is there. The opportunities for local entrepreneurs exists ... to cancel or postpone Carnival now, 40-something days away, will kill whatever chances Bahamas Carnival had to develop.
"Additionally, any cancellation now will not just hurt my business, but will also hurt the reputation of The Bahamas internationally, much like how crime has hurt the reputation of [New Providence] internationally."
While I do not expect for one moment that the government would take postponement into consideration, the larger conversation is whether the We March organizers took the time to consider the economic costs for their fellow Bahamians if their plea was adhered to by government.
It is quite fine to offer dissent on national issues. Countries need dissenters to keep their leaders honest and deepen conversations on national issues.
What Rolle and the carnival bands are asking for is the chance to make their products work.
President of the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association said this week that the bands would go on the road come what may (no pun intended). But, there is an expectation from international visitors and Bahamians alike that their weekend would consist of more than that.
For the moment, Bahamas Carnival needs the investment by the government. It is We March and the Bahamian people's job to ensure they spend what they say they will, on things that will advance the product and the country.
People love carnival. It's why some Bahamians spend thousands of dollars each year to go to not only Trinidad, but Caribana (Toronto), Cropover (Barbados), Miami Carnival, Germany Carnival, Nottinghill Carnival (UK), Jamaica Carnival, et al.
I am personally considering the fledgling Hollywood, California Carnival in June, simply because the experience is amazing everywhere Caribbean people and carnival enthusiasts come together to have an amazing time, to amazing music, feeling the amazing energy that only carnival can create.
As I mentioned last week, kudos must be extended to the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) on certain fronts, but especially to the carnival bands for creating an amazing road experience and even more amazing costumes.
That's the experience people travel for. They want to don costumes, become bacchanalists and let themselves be free in a world stricken with barriers. We need to be free.
But We March is right. We still need accountability. Take the right stand on the issues and we'll stand with you.
"We March organizers ought to again consider the position of its members before committing to this issue, as the group could stand to lose the majority of its support, many of whom are millennials and are either some way involved in Bahamas Carnival, either as band owners, or service providers, or simply as revelers," said Rolle.

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