By Earyel Bowleg

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ATTENDANCE at this year’s Emancipation Day Rush-out in Fox Hill dropped by an estimated 75 percent, according to organisers, who blamed tensions within the Junkanoo community for the sharp decline — despite some group members participating individually.

Warren Davis, chairman of the Fox Hill Festival Committee, told The Tribune yesterday the reduced turnout also impacted vendors, many of whom struggled to make sales.

“They didn’t make any money,” he said. “Being a vendor for a couple of years and if I used to make it at a certain amount - now this time, I can’t make a fraction of that, it is concerning.”

The poor turnout follows calls for public support amid an ongoing standoff between the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) and the government over the proposed National Junkanoo Authority Bill, which the organisation says is an attempt to centralise control and roll back self-governance.

The JCNP recently announced a suspension of all Junkanoo-related activities, including Emancipation Day events, in protest of the bill. The dispute escalated when the Genesis Junkanoo group alleged it was threatened with suspension and loss of privileges for showing interest in participating in the Fox Hill rush.

The situation prompted Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell to urge groups to set aside their differences and show unity on the day.

Despite the controversy, Mr Davis said members from groups such as Way Forward, Genesis, Original Congos, and a few Saxons turned out voluntarily and came together for a combined rush-out.

He noted that the rush lasted only about an hour — far shorter than the usual six-hour celebration — and began earlier than expected due to the presence of a special guest.

“If you really do a Junkanoo for an hour and a half, you know people tends to come to to watch Junkanoo and after Junkanoo was over, people sort of dissipated and go home,” he said.

Mr Davis said he had been in discussions with various groups ahead of the event and had hoped that, following the Junkanoo community’s meeting with the government, a resolution would have been reached allowing the groups to participate in the rush.

He said Genesis Junkanoo had always intended to come to Fox Hill “no matter what”, but later withdrew after receiving alleged threats.

The committee chairman also noted that he was in consultation with Way Forward, but they had indicated they would send a few members to represent them because their main band was off the island.

When asked if he believed there would be any repercussions for those who participated in the rush, Mr Davis said: “No, I don’t think so.”

“Because, like I said, they didn’t have any banner. We sent out a notice that is a unity rush. All our invited to come and rush. I don’t think the attack is on Junkanoo. I think the attacks are on different groups.”