Calling for the day of the parade to be changed during a press conference yesterday, Deandra Hamilton, president and editor of The Kingdom Times said for the second year, organisers of the parade have ignored or forgotten the 10 commandments given to Moses by God, among them being the fourth on the list which according to Hamilton is to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
“As a prominent member of the body of Christ, I choose to remind them and ask them to reconsider the day for the Junkanoo parade,” she said.
Adding that she is standing up and doing what she believes is right in the sight of God, Hamilton said, “There are some who will sit down and shut up and will charge that culture is important too.
“They will think I am trying to block their money-making opportunities, but I am more concerned about being obedient to God.”
Citing biblical references to substantiate her beliefs, Hamilton said that in Exodus 31:12, God told Moses that the Sabbath is important because it is a sign through- out generations to revel that he is the Lord who sanctifies us.
“There are some who might charge me with being a traditionalist and I contend that I am not,” she stated. “This is not about church in the sense of building or a service, this is about maintaining what is important to God so that we remain in his grace.”
Despite admitting to attending the parade last year and seeing no problem with it being held on a Sunday, Hamilton said that since last year she has changed and now believes that the parade can be held on a Friday or Saturday or even the August Monday holiday.
“The thinking was that last year was a test being the first time for the parade and by this year the kinks would be ironed out, and the organisers would have figured out a way to bring the economic and cultural boom again without corrupting the Sabbath,” she said. “Money, enterprise or culture should not be valued over obedience to God and if it is, it needs to change.”
Explaining, that she is calling for believers who hold the same beliefs as her to come together in prayer Monday and Tuesday night to pray for the date to change, Hamilton said, “God is saying we cannot allow this national and international event to set a deadly precedent or to get comfortable on the Sabbath. God has big plans for Grand Bahama and “Feel the Rush” may be a part of those plans, but not on a Sunday.
Responding to the statements made by Hamilton was Peter Adderley, public relations coordinator for the event, who stated that travel arrangements for over 1,000 Junkanooers, their costumes and equipment is near impossible to be done by airplane, thus it must be done by the mail boat system which Adderley affirms must take place over a two day span.
Adding that it is most unfortunate that this debate has risen once again at the ninth hour, Adderley claimed that organisers of the event spoke with Ricardo Grant, president of the Grand Bahama Christian Council months prior, relative to having the parade on a Sunday. Adderley said he was told it was best to have the parade after 6 p.m. if it is a must.
“So we hold the parade on a Sunday for those who travel from New Providence and the Family Islands will be able to travel over Friday and Saturday and can return home on Monday to arrive to their various jobs on Tuesday, that is what is practical and that is what is logical,” he said. “As it relates to ignoring any of God’s covenant it is baseless.”
Adding that there is no monopoly on how much one loves God, Adderley said that Junkanoo is an expression and celebration of the Bahamian culture and there is no attempt to disregard or disrespect the word of God.
“We are all guided by the same God and no one by person and no one body has a monopoly on God’s word or God’s teaching,” Adderley said.
Adding that there are those who have no respect for the Adventist Sabbath by asking that the parade be held on a Friday afternoon, Adderley said, “There are those who would rather us have it late Saturday evening and into early morning Sunday which will result in people not attending church Sunday morning or not having the energy to praise God.
“In doing something good you will never please everybody, he said.”
By Bianca Bethel, Freeport News Summer Intern
