JUNKANOO MUST NEVER BE HIJACKED AGAIN

Junkanoo is not merely a parade. It is the heartbeat of Bahamian identity, the rhythm of our ancestors, the expression of our creativity, and one of the few institutions that belongs to the people first and politics second. That is why any effort to seize control of it for political leverage must be treated as a matter of national concern.

The Herald has been reliably informed that the movers and shakers of the JCNP have not disappeared into the background. Far from it. Reports indicate that closed-door meetings are continuing, with discussions centred on how influence can once again be consolidated and how the lion’s share of Junkanoo can be secured as it once was.

The excitement among certain factions reportedly rose to a fever pitch because of links being drawn to individuals associated with the old order, including persons tied to the confusion and turbulence that previously engulfed the movement. This has reignited fears that the same network that once wielded enormous influence over Junkanoo is once again manoeuvring.

The concern is not simply about personalities. It is about intent.

There remains a belief among many observers that sections of this renegade crew used Junkanoo as more than culture. They allegedly turned it into a rallying point for anti-government mobilisation, using the movement’s passion and reach to exert political pressure and division. A cultural institution became entangled in battles that had little to do with preserving heritage and everything to do with influence.

That cannot be allowed to happen again.

The creation of a new Junkanoo Authority represented an opportunity to reset the system. The government decided to place the future of Junkanoo in the hands of sober-minded individuals whose focus would be on governance, transparency, sustainability, and cultural preservation rather than political gamesmanship.

That was the correct decision.

Junkanoo cannot be left vulnerable to infiltration by groups seeking to restore old power structures under a new banner. If reports are accurate that efforts are underway to penetrate the new authority and re-establish influence, then stakeholders must remain alert.

This is bigger than personalities, groups, or rivalries.

It is about protecting one of the greatest symbols of Bahamian identity from becoming a vehicle for political agendas.

Junkanoo belongs to the straw vendors, the musicians, the dancers, the builders, the children learning the craft, and the generations yet to come.

It does not belong to any faction.

It must never again be hijacked.