I agree with the sentiment, privatizing it and saying you're free to do what you want is not the solution. This is a festival that could get out of hand very quickly. In two years we could have naked people with body paint parading in the streets and God only knows the societal fallout of that as time passes.

In addition to removing all subsidies, concert and parade, while the country tries to get its finances in order, they need to put in a strict framework to describe what is NOT allowed. Our problem is we always sell the good things that will happen but we never analyze or plan for the risks, just look at the blight of regularized gaming on the country, especially the out islands. now we want to hand this festival to those same gaming people???

I fully concur, ThisisOurs. And the so called carnival band owners want a protected oligopoly just like the few who operate numbers gambling houses. The whole thing is a recipe for disaster and further moral decadence, and both the overturning of the gambling referendum and the introduction of carnival are bankrupt ideas of former PM Mr. Christie and his PLP government, all intended to enrich a few at the expense of the country, and an attempt to try to give legitimacy to what is and will always be illegitimate.

We have had a major problem of teenage girls getting pregnant for the last thirty years or more, long before anyone thought of Carnival.

To blame Carnival is ridiculous. Go and check the statistics.

The churches have failed to keep up with the times by preaching abstinence when they needed to be teaching other forms of prevention. Prevention would enable the church to get the confidence of the teenage girls and teach them how to steer a more moral life instead of having three children before they turn 20.

Thanks, I thought you had lost it for a moment.

I also agree with the writer's comments. The government is right about re-evaluating how public funds are spent and funding for Junkanoo Carnival should be eliminated from the budget. There are, as the writer has stated, larger issues at stake which speak to the morals of Bahamians and what we are teaching our young people; these are equally important considerations for our country. The Bahamas that I grew up in certainly did not promote public nudity. Junkanoo Carnival should be cancelled.

I agree with the writer's comments regarding Junkanoo Carnival. I agree that the government is right to re-evaluate how public funds are spent and should not use public funds for this event. As the writer has stated, there are moral issues at stake; what message are we sending to our young people by promoting public nudity? Junkanoo Carnival should be cancelled.

" That road is marked by increased public sexual indecency, crime and lawlessness, more broken families, more children born outside of marriage, more violence against women, increased sexual abuse, a failing educational system, lower productivity, and increased laziness, etc., as more and more people embrace the “live and wine” and “worst behaviour” culture of carnival"

Pastor Moss, why did you and your church allow it to get this far? Why do you continue to allow sweethearting? Why have you not taught the people about the 10 Commandments? People follow the example set by their leaders. The Pastors and Reverends with their sweethearts, their big houses and expensive flashy cars, the latter two at the detriment of their members economic survival, have set the stage for Carnival.

I say privatize it and let the fun continue.

I think that we should do it more like Brazil with body paint as a major part of the costume. Let us enjoy the beauty that God has created in its purest form of beauty. We are much closer than Rio and cheaper to get to. We could be the second Rio.

Economist, you are certainly entitled to your views. In a democracy, if a majority of people feel the way you do, then we should have carnival as you proposed. However, it is quite obvious that an overwhelming majority of Bahamians oppose every aspect carnival, especially the live pornographic parade in our streets.

We live in shared space, therefore we need commonsense rules about how we should conduct ourselves. That's why we have public decency laws. And more specifically, the reason we have such laws is that it is generally accepted that displaying private parts and sexual conduct should be done in private, not in public.

Regarding your question about why I and my church allowed it to get this far, I can say that we have spoken out repeatedly, but our former prime minister, Mr. Perry Christie, and his government were on a reckless path to destroy our nation as much as they could, and they degraded our nation morally as much as they did economically. From a moral point of view, the road to moral recovery, in part, includes the need for the government to refuse to aid and abet morally degrading activities like carnival, in any shape or form. Those who are so determined to enjoy carnival might wish to travel to Trinidad and/or Brazil.

Regarding your reference to 'sweehearting', the correct name is adultery. And yes, there are some who are called pastors who commit adultery and lead adulterous lifestyles. But by the grace of God, I'm not one of them, and by the grace of God I will never be one of them. November of this year will mark 30 years of marriage to my one and only wife, to whom I've been entirely faithful, by God's grace.

And about the 10 commandments, learning them is much easier than keeping them. Without the transforming work that Jesus Christ does in a repentant sinner's heart, none of us can keep the 10 commandments, in letter or spirit. And the purpose of the 10 commandments is to drive us to Jesus Christ, the only one who has kept and will ever keep them perfectly.

And yes we have some pastors who live in big houses and drive flashy cars, and yes in some cases they fund their lifestyles by fleecing sincere, innocent people. However, again, by the grace of God, I'm not one of them. I do live in a large house, but those who know me know that I made my money in the international financial services sector. For some pastors, the most money they ever made was when they became pastors. That's not the case with me. Although I have been a full time minister at our church since 1998, I continued from that day to this day to earn the bulk of my income from my minority share ownership in the international financial services business which I founded back in 1994. I became a full time pastor knowing full well that my income would be drastically reduced, and I'm not complaining, just explaining. I have no regrets.

You een want see Bahamians in body paint. You'll be just like Paul
Major, concept vs reality. Let's get the weight loss program going first

Sorry for being long winded!

Pastor Moss has the right point of view .......... Just review Pintard's Budget address and you will get the answer ........ Paul Major and Roscoe Dames can start up their Carnival company and get started on the next Carnival

Dear Pastor, my point is tat the church is failing us.

With the exception of one or two of the more progressive community churches, the churches have been unable to attract a majority of the young.

Maybe you are one of the few who can make a difference. Most churches have lost their relevance. Our crime rate of theft and murder proves that.

The fact that the churches came out, in the constitutional referendum, in favour of having children out of wedlock and condemning Bahamian mothers who had them in wedlock indicated that the churches had lost their way and did not follow the Lord's teaching.

Yes, that is what the churches said when they encouraged people to vote no on one of the questions.

If the church can't follow the Lord then how do you expect anyone to follow the church?

Most churches don't have Christ., they're frauds and give the few real ones a bad name. They've become businesses and take your money gimmicks. I never see Jesus spend so much time and effort on getting money from people for a physical structure "building the kingdom" my afterburner.

Economist, I don't think you should blame the church. Each one of us is responsible for our own behaviour.

The church is supposed to lead its flock.

So true ThisisOurs, there are so many churches with all sorts of new fangled names springing up daily and in competition with one another for how many AC units or trinkets they can display.
Church in many instances has become a business and well paying at that. As for promoting the Christian ideology so many of these church goers simply attend on a Sunday as a social event and who can dress better. And so many so called pastors etc are self taught or passed a postal course on "becoming a pastor" which makes a mockery of the sustained and comprehensive training that Catholic or Anglican priests have to go through.

Thank you, Pastor Moss, for your well-written, and timely, letter, as well as your vigorous defense of your character. For whatever reasons, Bahamians have abandoned their true Bahamian heritage in pursuit and acceptance of other Caribbean cultures. We have idolized the Jamaican artists (like Bob Marley, etc) and their life style of Reggae music, promotion of marijuana use, Rastafarianism, and even dialect, to the extent of claiming some of them as being Bahamian. Many of young people are unable to differentiate between what is Bahamian, and what truly belongs to other Caribbean countries.

Carnival should be abandoned. Junkanoo and Goombay festivities should be strengthened, and promoted. Our Independence Celebrations could be improved and promoted. Carnival goers will go to Trinidad, Rio, and New Orleans, while tourists will still come to the Bahamas for something different and unique.

But do these charismatic, fire and brimstone, looking for a seed pastors really want to help the government???????? ........... Well do something to clean up the culture of corruption and laziness in the society ......... Do more than look for more Crown Land to build churches, schools and investments on ............. Pastor Moss take your voice to the Christian Council cartel who are sometimes just as bad as the worldly Cabinet

Pastor Moss has certainly started an interesting dialogue with his letter but why attack the messenger? The real question is whether Junkanoo Carnival should continue and this is an opportune time for meaningful dialogue on this subject. Thank you Pastor Moss for raising this question as I've been privately wondering about the same thing.

Moss is not been attacked ........ institutional parasitic religion is (now if he fits that group, I will include him)

Not attacking Pastor Moss, I actually agree with hi on carnival. A separate topic came up about fraudster churches.

Ain't enough body paint in the world for some of these ladies I see out there!

That is unnecessary.

Do they have barf bags at our carnival?

Thank you, Pastor Cedric; and Happy Independence Day to all the citizens of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Our country is blessed with God-fearing men like yourself who place the wellbeing of our fellow Bahamians above politics and economics. Your words echo the wisdom of Proverbs 14:34 -

**"Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people."**

Although there are many who try to justify such wicked practices like Carnival either by:

1. Pointing the finger at the church because of the moral failures of so-called pastors who are really just "wolves in sheep's clothing", or
2. Citing some economic benefits that might might be gained,

I believe any right-thinking Bahamian would agree with what you have shared. We would all do well to remember:

Proverbs 10:22
**"The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich,
and he addeth no sorrow with it."**

Proverbs 15:16
**"Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble."**

Proverbs 15:16 was a good choice. Now add Mark 10:21 for the Pastors to follow.
The Country will then see them as true men of God, but not before.

Let them lead by example and show us the way to the Lord and the teachings in the Bible.

Anyone can select a verse few can live by the Bible.

Pastor Moss in the Bahamas it is called sweet hearting and not adultery that is Bahamian
now Pastor you can tell roc with doc to cancel all web shops. Cancel web shops and cancel
Carnival. I* am sure you saw the Web shop boss and Sarkis at Government House.

You have paid much attention to be able to describe the carnival in such Vivid terms, Perhaps
you should practice if your eyes offend you. It is the mind set that forms the character of people. there is the internet that young and old has access to and they can watch
what ever they please. .. roc with doc is your man and the FNM is your party, Tell them
what you want. Honesty is not common in the churches, there is too much politics and not
enough of Jesus who died for all. Like the great Paul preach Jesus Christ crucified.

The only reason that Pastor Moss and other clergymen are talking about Carnival is to distract Bahamians from the fact that as clergymen they have failed in getting the Lord's word across to the people.

After they opposed the Numbers Houses, when Hubert Ingraham talked of legalizing them, they did not go and protest in front of the Number Houses and get them shut down. That would mean that they would have to do more than talk. Yet, they had the example set by Christ when he turned over the tables in the Temple.

They are all talk and no action. This is why people continue to commit acts of adultery, rob and murder. The clergy have failed, and continue to fail because they are not true men of God.

No, Economist, do not blame the church for people committing adultery, robbery and murder, as that gives them a free pass. Hold people accountable for their actions.

I am. I like to see people who have something to say actually stand up for what they say they believe in. These churches say a great deal but do very little.

These pastors have little or no substance which is why very few of our younger generation follow them.

They have failed to lead. I blame them for their lack of real leadership.

Pastor Moss is entitled to his opinion, however, he is not entitled to cast his opinions and moral beliefs on the whole country based on his own personal convictions.

Nobody is forced to watch or participate in Carnival. It is a personal choice albeit easily considered risqué especially to certain individuals considering themselves as having high moral character.

I personally have no interest in the carnival, have never attended a carnival event and probably never will, although I have watched carnival clips from various countries and do find it aspects of it vulgar, that does not mean I am right and Carnival has is without merit.

Firstly, the PLP in their usual lousy fashion failed to educate Bahamians what Carnival is about and why they thought it would be a badly needed addition to the Bahamas failing tourism product.

Carnival has absolutely NOTHING to do with Bahamian culture, should never have been introduced as something Bahamian. The words "Carnival" and "Bahamian culture" should have never been uttered in the same sentence and that is where the former deceitful, smoke and mirror specialist administration made their biggest irreversible mistake!

Carnival is not just a Caribbean event. It is held in 90 countries globally and a proven profit center for countries tourism bottom line.

https://tenandlee.wordpress.com/worldwi…

The Bahamas is desperately short on attractions and Carnival, if promoted honestly and properly, could become a major event for drawing tourist to the Bahamas as it has in dozens of Caribbean, Latin, American, Canadian and European cities and countries.

It is all too easy for Pastor Moss and others to grandstand, point fingers and find fault with Carnival. However, these people have never suggested any alternative solutions to help reverse our downward spiral in tourism!

**It time for all of us to stop all the whining and start chipping in with the heavy lifting**

A serious look at Miami, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Cuba's calendar of events should be studied to determine possible additions to, or replacement for Carnival.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/ja…

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/do…

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cu…

http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/events/a…

Carnival as is don't help tourism. Not until they realize that all those countries you cite have a "native" festival that they call "carnival", and the locals are the bread and butter of the parade, not the other way around.

Oh, my solution, cancel carnival and expand the Junkanoo season. But not with that scrappy thing they throw together and call Junkanoo summer festival, the groups don't even take it seriously, they come out in the same beat up costumes from Christmas. One group looked like they come out in bra and panty. Suck teeth...Make a high quality Junkanoo season a real greatest show n earth, THAT would help tourism

I certainly wouldn't think anyone could characterize Latin, American, Canadian and European cities and countries Carnivals as "native" festival that they call "carnival".

However, you are unquestionably on point that Junkanoo has always been substantially way underutilized. With proper funding as pumped into Carnival, the Bahamas can easily create, and **possibly have already unwittingly created a unique event** to encourage and attract the huge Carnival followers to a one of kind Carnival type event by **seriously** incorporating more aspects of Junkanoo and Bahamian culture into "*Junkanoo* Carnival"!

Thanks for your input. If politicians would learn they are not instant geniuses after winning seats in Parliament and would LISTEN to people on the ground for a change, and we focus on putting our collective heads together, we WILL find the best-suited solutions to our problems.

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival (a moronic conniption) will die a natural death ...... because Major, Dames and the other cronies will not invest THEIR money in it ........... so long, bye, bye!!!!!

We have our Boxing Day and New Year's Junkanoo for which we are world-famous. We have our Royal Bahamas Police Band, for which we are also world-famous. Who needs this junk carnival? The People certainly don't want to pay for it!

Yes, cancel it!!!
Sometimes I am flabbergasted by the attitude of the people who are elected to represent the people of this great nation. Firstly, let us establish, officially, that Goombay is the national music of the Bahamas. Not "Junkanoo" Or "Rake 'n' Scrape". The two latter forms of music were once a part of other Caribbean islands, with Junkanoo even being a traditional festival of North Carolina. Goombay, however, was a part of the repertories of great Bahamian musicians like, George Symonette, Blind Blake, Joseph Spence, Charlie Adamson and Eloise Lewis,Maureen Duvalier, just to name a few. People came from all over the world to listen and or record these musical giants! The trend should have continued to today. But anyway, to make a long story short, simply promote our music, food and crafts through the Goombay Festival. That way hundreds of artistes and food vendors are employed during the slowest months and at the same time,our culture will be available to both local residents and visitors alike. This is music appreciation 101. Government, please think out of the box or try to at least be sincere about the welfare of the Bahamian people!

I have a few questions for those who feel that the debauchery and sexual immorality of carnival should be allowed in public in The Bahamas:

Would any of you object to your neighbours having sex their yard where you and/or your children are able to see them doing so?

What about women walking around in their yard or in the street in a g-string or in the streets, in full view of you and your children? Would you object?

What about loud, blaring music? Should people be allowed to blare music in public at ear drum damaging levels?

All of these questions are relevant for carnival.

My point is simple. We live in shared space, and we have to be considerate of each other. I don't believe we should allow people to block up our streets, intoxicate themselves, and be on their worst behaviour, half naked and virtually having sex on the street, while blaring music. And it is simplistic to say that I don't have to watch it. That's not the point.

If everyone gets to do what he or she wants to do in public space, we will have anarchy. We need commonsense rules to govern how we live in shared space.

Pastor Moss,I wasn't aware that the carnal carnival participants were having sex in the streets, if this had been widely known ticket sales would have far exceeded Paul Majors expectations, I might even have considered buying season tickets myself, LoL.

"....should be allowed in public...."

Well at long last we see where the problem is. Thank you for your clarification.

If we don't see it then we don't have to acknowledge that it is happening is what you are saying.

That is why your churches don't do much about the other matters like the Sweethearting or the numbers, or much of anything else for that matter.

By the way what are you doing about the other matters? How are you solving the underlying social ills of our country?

The thirteen and fourteen year olds who are having babies, what are you doing to make sure that they don't have any more children until they have graduated with a High School Diploma?

You rant about an event that will last a week. What a waste of time when there are some real problems you need to fix.