By GENEA NOEL
Freeport News
What was expected to bring some economic relief to Grand Bahama before the end of summer has now been postponed until a later date.
As speculated by sources close to The Freeport News, the third annual Just Rush Junkanoo Parade that was set for this past weekend has been put off until Saturday, October 10.
For almost three weeks, event organizers debated changing the date as many members of the participating Junkanoo groups expressed that this weekend would be bad timing to have the event.
Organizer and creator of the parade, Peter Adderley, confirmed yesterday that the cultural competition will be postponed until the Discovery Holiday weekend and cited that back-to-school activities and the Miss Universe Pageant being staged in Nassau were among the reasons for the change.
"While projects of this magnitude are always challenging, it is better to create rather than complain," Adderley said.
He added that the Junkanoo Parade will definitely take place in downtown Freeport and will involve top groups — including The Shell Saxons Superstars, Valley Boys, Classic Dancers, and Swingers — competing for top cash prizes. Ken Ferguson, leader of the Classic Dancers, and Huck Williams, head of the Swingers, said yesterday that no matter when the parade is scheduled they will participate once the funds are in place.
"If the parade comes through and we get the funds that are promised to us, we would be glad enough to participate," Ferguson said.
"It does not matter when the parade is held ... We are junkanooers and whenever we are called, once we can get the funding we would want to be a part of it," Williams added.
Adderley noted that having the parade on the holiday weekend would mean more benefits for the participants and spectators.
He said there is always an extra day for rest and if the event is held on a Saturday, persons can get their results comfortably on a Sunday without the rush and be able to travel back home on a Monday.
More persons from the Family Islands, he said, would be more inclined to attend the event, which further stimulates the island's economy during that time.
"We have persons waiting on this event," Adderley said. "The vendorship is always over subscribed because those people are willing to pay a few hundred dollars to secure a booth and they make a significant amount of money."
Adderley added that although the event is not taking place now, when the times come, rental car companies and hotels would also benefit as Grand Bahama will most likely have an influx of visitors.
"There is no doubt that this will be a beneficial event for the island and the committee remains committed to making it a success," Adderley said.
Sponsors of the Just Rush parade include the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Grand Bahama Power, Ministry Of Tourism, and the Junk-anoo Beach Club.
