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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
HISTORIC MOMENT - Legendary Ronnie Butler performs in Grand Bahama at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Kickoff Weekend. (Photo by Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival)
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Freeport, Bahamas - While forecasters predicted inclement weather this weekend, it was no show stopper for the thousands who flocked to Taino Beach for one epic Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival kickoff party in Grand Bahama.
The non-stop cultural affair which began Friday evening with a pre-air show and ended well into the early morning hours with a rush-out on Sunday, drew over 16,000 spectators, according to police estimates, despite heavy downpours of rain.
“There was approximately 4,000 on Friday and 12,000 last night,” Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour revealed, adding that a number of Royal Bahamas Police Force officers were deployed in and around the event.
“Anytime we have such mega and major events as this, we always prepare for any and every eventuality, but we were prepared, „weather‟ or not. So because of our preparation and the execution of those preparation it contributed to a successful weekend,” Seymour said.
TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP - Participants of the 5K run did not let a little rain keep them away from the competition 6:00 Saturday morning and were pumped and ready to take one for the team. (Photo by Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival)
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Ministry of Tourism Manager of Sports Tourism Nuvolari Chootosingh was also pleased with the turn out, young and old, for the first ever Air Show at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Kickoff, despite the weather.
“The airshow was absolutely phenomenal. I think the crowd was really excited about it, even with weather it did not deter them whatsoever. Next year is going to be bigger and more exciting,” he said.
Corporate Grand Bahama also stepped up its game this year and made an impressive showing of sportsmanship while competing in the rain Saturday during the early morning hours, retreating home to regroup and returning for the Beach Olympics competition later that morning.
From the All-Star performances from entertainers including Stileet, Geno D, Julien
Believe, D-Mac, Visage and legendary greats Ronnie Butler and Jay Mitchell to guests Jack Nasty, Olatunji, King Bubba, Ricardo Drue, Fadda Fox and Shurwayne Winchester, the music at the Cultural Village was amped up.
SHOWDOWN - Contestants in the 2016 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Music Masters Competition duked it out on stage this weekend at the Kickoff in Grand Bahama to claim a spot in the finals for a shot at winning $20,000 on May 7. (Photo by Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival)
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The 14 semifinalists in the Music Masters Song Competition brought a rhythmic flavor to the stage in a showdown like no other over the two days. Eight of them have moved on to vie for $20,000 at Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in New Providence on May 5-7.
More than 250 songs have been submitted to the Bahamas National Festival Commission since the creation of the song completion in 2014, designed to rejuvenate the entertainment industry in The Bahamas.
Come May 5, one finalist, including reigning champion Sammi Starr with his new single, Second Time Around, will be crowned the Music Master 2016.
Wendell „Avvy‟ Mortimor was also named as a finalist with „Party All Night‟; along with Ebony Gibson with „Block da Road‟; Jive –Valene Rolle and ILsha McPhee‟s two songs, „Rhythms‟ and „Carnival Time‟; Erica „Lady E‟ Symonette with her two songs „I Live for the Road‟and „Feel that Rhythm‟; Collin McDondald with „Turn It Up‟; Fanshawn Taylor with „Lets Dig Up da Road‟ and Grand Bahama‟s Terrell Tynes Wilson with „Rake and Scrape.‟
Sponsors of the Grand Bahama Kickoff Weekend are BTC, Kalik, Ministry of Tourism, the Grand Bahama Power Company, Bank of The Bahamas, The Grand Life, the Grand Bahama Shipyard, Bahamian Brewery, PharmaChem, Polymers and Bahamasair.
“It was an awesome weekend. We couldn‟t ask for anything more. Grand Bahama did it again, proving that we are a community that is prepared to come together for the economic benefit of Grand Bahama island,” said Event Coordinator Ginger Moxey.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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