Dear Sir,

Great news!  Bahamian Culture has been saved!  On TV the other night it was revealed that a new Junkanoo group has joined the fray.  One small problem, however, this group has been around for about 10 years, another minor problem, the group is located in Miami, Florida …., oh and one last tiny problem, the group leader was born in America.  So, Junkanoo is alive and well and living in …. Miami?!  They are called Bahamas Junkanoo Shakers and the group leader is one, Jawara Sturrup.  Well, what the heck, let’s be thankful for small mercies, Mr. Sturrup’s family did hail from the Bahamas.  They are actively marketing Bahamian Culture in south Florida with no mention of carnival.  Not surprising, really, carnival has NOTHING to do with the Bahamas!  Why on earth should we confuse visitors to the Bahamas by trying to merge two quite separate and different cultures?.

Did Mr. Percy “Vola” Francis see this news item?  He should be hanging his head in shame.  As Mr. Francis appears to be abandoning Junkanoo for carnival perhaps some of the Superstars could fly over to Miami to give encouragement and help the Shakers put on a real show!

Who could be Mr. Francis’, scriptwriter because it is difficult to believe that he, a major pillar of OUR culture, surely could not voluntarily “jump ship” to something so alien?

Mr. Francis and those other cretins people on the Bahamas Junkanoo carnival Board, are doing absolutely no favours for Bahamian Culture, this rubbish is being headlined by a Trinidadian and by bands from Cuba and Haiti …… ?!  Sip sip going the round, Baha Men did not even have a contract to appear!  Long live Trinidadian, Cuban and Haitian culture; Bahamas Junkanoo, may you rest in peace!

H. Armbrister