#Bahamas, September 23, 2017 – Nassau – Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Michael Pintard (seventh from left) and stakeholders are pictured, September 21, 2017, after presenting seed funding to Junkanoo groups and participants in the 2017 parades.
Pictured to the Minister’s right is Director of Culture Rowena Poitier-Sutherland and to his left, Cultural Officer with responsibility for Junkanoo Ellery Deveaux. Minister Pintard said that it was an honour to serve in his capacity of Minister, at a time when so many young Bahamians were making the decision to “step up to the plate” and continue the tradition that was started by ‘many of the giants who are in this room’.
“We are looking forward to playing a pivotal role, as a government, in helping to revitalize and further expand Junkanoo,” Minister Pintard said. “The Prime Minister (the Hon. Hubert Minnis) in particular is a Junkanooer. He is absolutely committed to culture, in general, and Junkanoo in particular; and that is going to be reflected in the increased allocation to the expansion of Junkanoo in general.”
Minister Pintard added that the Government was happy to have as partners the Junkanoo leaders and all of their members, as well as corporate Bahamas — the latter, he said, the Government would be approaching soon to partner on a number of “exciting initiatives” in further revitalizing Junkanoo.
(BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
