All of the artists contracts for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival have been re-signed, with minimal financial implications after being cancelled last week, CEO and Managing Commissioner of the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) Roscoe Dames, told Guardian Business yesterday.
Last week the government changed the dates of the carnival, pushing it back by two weeks in order to remove any potential conflicts with election rallies and parties. However, pressure from carnival band members, the general public and the media convinced government that the date change was a bad idea, and the original carnival dates were reinstated.
Yesterday the date for the country's general election was announced and will be held only four days after the end of carnival.
Dames said the BNFC "obviously" scrambled to change flights, but insisted that none of the artists charged any extra fees for any inconveniences caused by the date change.
"Everybody has been re-signed," he said.
"Everybody is back on board and there was no major cost implications. We were able to catch it before it got out of hand."
Dames added that the date change fiasco may have garnered more bookings for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, though the incident was a "blip on the radar", according to him.
However, it has been a trending thought from the commission that the negative press surrounding the date change may have had a positive effect on the level of international interest in Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Machel Montano, who is considered the king of soca music, is expected to headline one of the nights of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
Dames added that Grand Bahama's Music Masters semi-final show is still a go, adding that several BNFC officials were in Grand Bahama over the weekend ensuring everything is in order for April 28 and 29. Carnival in Nassau is expected to take place May 4-6.

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