Six of the island’s public primary and high schools have already confirmed their participation in the December 17-scheduled Junior Junkanoo Parade.
The announcement was made Wednesday during a press conference at the City of Freeport Council by Grand Bahama Junior Junkanoo Committee Co-ordinator Wellington Moultrie.
Schools that have so far announced that they will be a part of the highly anticipated parade, which was thwarted last year due to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, are Eight Mile Rock High School; Jack Hayward High School; St. Vincent de Paul School; Martin Town Primary School, a first-time participant; Walter Parker Primary School; and St. Georges High School, which had been absent from the Junior Junkanoo Parade scene for three years. Four to six other schools on the island are expected to register to be part of the event.
Grand Cay All-Age School will not be a part of the competition this year, however, due to devastation that the property suffered at the hands of last year’s active hurricane season. Nonetheless, Mr. Moultrie stated that they made a promise to be in Grand Bahama for next year’s competition.
Mr. Moultrie said that St. Georges High School’s return will significantly increase this year’s competition.
“That category (secondary category) was being dominated by Eight Mile Rock High and Jack Hayward High, and I’m sure St. Georges will be a force to reckon with,” Mr. Moultrie said. “So we are looking forward to a fierce competition in the high school, secondary category.”
Because of students’ high energy level, crisp dance routines, and enlivening music productions at Junior Junkanoo competitions, Mr. Moultrie noted that junior groups will soon pose a challenge to senior Junkanoo groups, in terms of each event’s number of supporters.
Materials needed to begin creating costumes for the upcoming parade will be distributed to schools by 4:00 p.m. today.
The committee is now placing its focus on having competitors perform with a flare that would outshine any of the previous Junior Junkanoo Parades.
Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture Grand Bahama Office Manager Monique Leary deemed it a privilege to see Junkanoo in general once again on the rise in Grand Bahama. She said that the office has received innumerable calls from persons highly excited about December’s Junior Junkanoo Parade.
She strongly urged the entire Grand Bahama community to encourage the young students in their endeavour to carry on The Bahamas’ most indigenous form of culture.
“I think it’s good to see that culture is getting into the schools and the young people are learning how to build these costumes now,” Mrs. Leary said. “They are going to be the future of the larger New Year’s Day Parade.”
By JEREMY FRANCIS, Freeport News Reporter
