Killemwitthedontknow---What are you talking about. The whole point of you guys starting a carnival was to create an event to integrate into Bahamian culture, but even moreso to bring in more tourist money. So it is VERY important that Americans, other Caribbean nationalities, and others find it hype. Duh. And looking at the crowd at Clifton Park, I can hardly tell that this Carnival was "forced" on anyone.

People need to relax on the Junkanoo comparisons. Junkanoo is for bahamians. For 99% of tourists, it is a spectator sport, simply something to see--that's why Junkanoo will never bring in the kind of tourist dollars that the carnivals in T&T, Jamaica, Barbados, etc. Not to mention, Junkanoo happens during a time of year (Xmas & NY) when most people are home with their families and not traveling abroad. Carnival is an event that tourists will come to watch and/or **participate**, as well as attend a major music event. Junkanoo is safe. It will always be, for the most part, for Bahamians. Carnival is something for Bahamian fete'ers, carnival junkies (there are many) and tourists. Junkanoo and Junkanoo Carnival are apples and organges.

You can't successfully sell something to another group of people unless it's already proven to be a fun and popular event with your own. This first carnival seemed to have done that. Some of us here in the US have been watching and from the footage and pictures we've seen, there are a lot of us (me and my friends of different Caribbean nationalities living in the US) who plan to attend next year!!!

Janet Jackson? The government was smart to shoot that down. If the Bahamas was to get a foreign entertainer to perform, they should try to get a big Soca performer like Machel. If the Bahamas want to make money off of a "Carnival", they need to pander to that target audience. There is a large group of people who travel from carnival to carnival and soca is a big part of it. So mixing the Bahamian culture in with a little bit of traditional carnival culture in the end is what will help it to grow.

I'm sure they would have said that is what happened.

Bravo. It think it's time more people give something new a chance. I doubt anything could get worse.

Exactly! The police were completely negligent in releasing this MINOR to people who are not her legal guardian. That is just standard procedure in any country.

Simply being convicted of a crime doesn't stop a person from getting a "second chance" at life. But what that person was convicted of definitely determines what kind of future employment that person can get. In the U.S., for example, a person who has been convicted of any kind of theft, fraud, money laundering, etc. will almost never be able to get a job in any financial field that would require them to have access to any monies of a company or the public---but that person could probably after some time become a teacher, perhaps. Just as someone who has been convicted of a crime that is considered a **violent crime**, i.e. caused bodily harm or took the life of someone will never be able to get a job where that person is in control of the welfare of the public, including children. This man, just by the crime of his past, should have never been given a job that involves being responsible of the welfare of anyone. There are plenty of jobs he could be doing, even if it is in a office role for the Ministry of Education, but he should not be responsible for children. Period.

Maybe it was money from the robberies at two different hotels recently--which included 2 Americans who had money stolen out of their room.

It's great that this man paid his debt to society and has rehabilitated himself. He should have been given a desk job, however. In the U.S., for example, a person with that kind of criminal history would never be allowed to be in that kind of position requiring them to be around children to that capacity. This is absurd!

Same thing I was thinking.