Freeport, The Bahamas - With just over three weeks left, the countdown to the Grand Bahama kickoff of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival (BJC) Music Masters Semi-finals is on and projected to bring significant economic boost to the island.

The two-day event, set for April 17^th and 18^th, is pegged to draw thousands of Bahamians and visitors to the island at Taino Beach and kick off the much anticipated signature cultural street festival in The Bahamas slated for May 7-9 in New Providence.

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is the merger of the Carnival concept with Junkanoo, the brainchild of Prime Minister Perry Christie, is intended to rebrand the country as a viable entertainment destination and afford Junkanooers the opportunity to make and sell costumes, both in The Bahamas and around the world.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell spoke at a press conference in Grand Bahama at the Grand Bahama Cultural Carnival Company (GBCCC) office on Friday to the economic benefits BJC will have on the island, shortly after he was given a tour of the newly opened facility.

darville and mitchell at gbccc from mackeymedia on Vimeo.

“The prime minister wanted to find a way for our culture to become economically self-sustaining and so this is an effort toward that. You have your artisans, musicians everybody will be involved – the community at-large, and people will come from not only outside of the country, but from other islands inside the country to Grand Bahama for the signature events,” Minister Mitchell said.

“So it’s going to be very exciting. Obviously the artisans are very happy, engaged in productive work. I want to congratulate all of the organizers here on Grand Bahama; Ms. Moxey and her team, for getting us organized and, who knows, on the 17th and 18th I may find my way in Freeport,” said Minister, adding that he already has his costume.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville also noted at the press conference that since the prime minister’s announcement last year, the community of Grand Bahama has embraced Junkanoo Carnival and he is pleased with the strides that have been taken in preparation for the Grand Bahama and Nassau events.

“Today, here at this particular location, which is the brain of the whole Freeport Junkanoo Carnival concept, is the actual construction of all of the various costumes that will be worn at the main event in Nassau,” he said. “I’m very pleased with how the whole event is taking shape here on Grand Bahama.”

“We had an opportunity to look at the factory and to see many of our good artisans producing the various costumes that we will be representing in Nassau with the group from Grand Bahama. I intend to be a part of it and I encouraging many young, energetic and the elderly to be a part of our group that will be originating in Nassau.”

Minister Darville thanked the Ministry of Tourism, which is also charged with marketing and promoting Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival event overseas, Junkanooers, artisans, musicians and other cultural enthusiasts who have united with one force to demonstrate to the rest of the country how they have embraced the concept of Junkanoo Carnival.

“Many of our artisans are now engrafted in the whole concept, not just for this celebration, but in the years to come. I see it as a very important initiative for us here on Grand Bahama, first of all to create a new calendar event, but one of the greatest benefits of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and its impact to Grand Bahama is jobs,” Minister Darville said.

“The logistics are in place – The Royal Bahamas Police Force, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, as well as us in the Ministry for Grand Bahama – working very closely with the cooperation of our citizens to ensure that the event is successful.”

As for the Music Masters two-day semifinals event, Minister Darville said while government is optimistic about the domestic tourism numbers from Nassau and the Family Islands, it is also interesting to note that many individuals from around the world are expressing great interest via internet responses.

“So our antennae are up for Grand Bahama. We’re ready for what is about to take place on the April 17 and 18 and we’re inviting Bahamians throughout The Bahamas to come and support this initiative which will start here on Grand Bahama. We realize there will be some major events associated with it, there will be a lot of aspects of Bahamian cuisine. Many of our artisans will be displaying other cultural products and so it will be an exciting time for us here on Grand Bahama,” Minister Darville said.

Minister Darvilled noted that he is also optimistic that in the years to come, Bahamas Junknaoo Carnival will be a major signature event for Grand Bahama and a major financial injection to the economy, which will ultimately mean jobs and opportunities for individuals who are serious about Junkanoo and what the economic impact Junkanoo can have on them and the various groups.

At the GBCCC office opening in the Regent Centre East on Tuesday, Bahamas National Festival Commission Consultant Ginger Moxey explained that the company is a coming together of all nine Junkanoo groups, cultural product providers and musicians in Grand Bahama for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.

Costumes being produced at the local office will also be on sale and can be worn at both events in Grand Bahama and at Road Fever in New Providence.

Moxey added that the impact the two-day event will have on the island will range from hotel rooms, to car rentals and everything in between.

“Our beautiful models, make-up artists, entertainers, Junkanoo practitioners; everyone is benefitting from it. It’s a community thing and we’re really really excited about it. It really is a wonderful opportunity for this island and for the country,” she said.

Stressing the fact that the Grand Bahama Cultural Company is a community company, Moxey pointed out that along with the Junkanoo Carnival costumes, the CDs of local musicians and authentic Grand Bahamian products will also be sold at the GBCCC office.

Come April 17^th and 18^th, 17 Bahamian artists who make it to the semifinals in the song competition of the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival CD compilation will perform their original songs on one stage.

Grand Bahama’s Terrell Tynes-Wilson and Georgina Ward-Rigby will be among the number, along with other Bahamian entertainers.

Midnight Rush will follow the initial concert on April 17^th and is expected to warp into the beach party before day two of the Music Masters semi-finals kicks off April 18^th.

Vendor applications are available at the GBCCC office, along with information on the all-access weekend pass. For further information, call 602.5117.