Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday confirmed that the dates for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, previously scheduled for May 4-6 in Nassau, have been "suspended or extended" due to the approaching general election, but was unable to indicate the new dates for the event.

However, last night, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival announced on Instagram that the new dates are May 18-20. Earlier in the day, the prime minister was asked if the election date would affect carnival. He said, "I am advised [that] the carnival commission has met and agreed because of the pending possibilities to suspend or extend the date of carnival."

He spoke to reporters after the renaming ceremony of a portion of Thompson Boulevard to University Drive at the University of The Bahamas.

"I don't know the dates they have chosen, but it is my understanding that, that has been done," the prime minister said. Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) Chairman Paul Major also confirmed yesterday that carnival is being postponed. Major told The Nassau Guardian that when the commission realized that Parliament was about to be dissolved and there would be so many rallies taking place, it thought a postponement would be best so that carnival wouldn't have to compete with the political rallies.

Major said people should not be made to choose between going to carnival and attending a rally.

The Office of the Prime Minister announced on Sunday night that Parliament will be dissolved next Tuesday, but no election date was revealed. Yesterday, Christie said this was done in order to give people an opportunity to register to vote in time.

Last Thursday, BNFC announced the dates, location and international artists to perform at the event.

Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Denise Belfon and Beres Hammond are scheduled to perform at carnival in Nassau and Clifford Park has been eliminated as a venue with all Nassau activities to take place at Arawak Cay. Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis revealed recently that the price tag for the festival will be $5 million.

It is also unclear what money, if any, is being lost as a result of the planned postponement. Some people who are booked to attend carnival in Nassau in May expressed outrage upon learning the news that carnival has been postponed.

The government budgeted $9 million on the inaugural carnival, which took place in 2015, but ended up spending $12.9 million. According to the commission, the 2016 carnival cost $9.8 million, with the government subsidizing $8.1 million of that amount.

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