Arts & Culture
Festival Commission encourages groups to register with one of 26 Road Fever companies
Apr 15, 2016 - 6:18:51 PM

Cutoff date passed for new company registration

NASSAU, The Bahamas –  The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) supports the position of the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association in adhering to the rules set out last year, which established a cutoff date for companies to register to participate in the Road Fever parade. The Band Owners Association had requested a multiyear moratorium on new company entrants. While the Commission did not support this moratorium, it did support establishing an annual cutoff date for the registration of new companies.

The Road Fever parade consists of a procession of registered carnival companies, who sell costume packages to individual participants. The National Insurance Board (NIB) made a late request to participate as an independent group in the parade. This request was considered by the Commission in the interest of being inclusive. The Commission was concerned about killing the spirit of those who wished to "jump in the line". However, after several rounds of consultation and lobbying from all of the stakeholders, the Commission took the final position to request that NIB participate this year through a registered Road Fever company.

The Commission would like the broadest participation possible in Road Fever and encourages individuals and groups to partner with one of the 26 registered Road Fever companies this year. Next year, new companies are free to register as a group before the cutoff date.

The Commission would also like to reiterate that it supports the Bahamas Carnival Band Owners Association’s efforts to take full responsibility for the Road Fever Parade thereby privatizing the event. There will only be one road parade during Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.

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