FREEPORT, Grand Bahama…A major move towards bringing back “the glory days” to West End was revealed at a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport, where Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for the area, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe announced that the Ginn Corporation has agreed to be the corporate sponsor for this year’s West End Junkanoo Parade and competition.

The Tourism Minister made the announcement along with Ginn Corporation executives John Davies and John Gray, the Member of Parliament for Pineridge Ann Percentie-Russell, and the Chairman of the West End Junkanoo Committee, Jeff Albury.

“It is my privilege to announce formally,” Mr. Wilchcombe stated, “that plans are well underway for the staging of the first Junkanoo Festivals in West End after a hiatus of almost eight years.”
He said it was fundamental for us to recognize that a part of West End has been junkanoo. It started many years ago with men like Senator Austin Grant, now deceased, who thought it was an opportunity to celebrate the culture and the creative attributes of the Bahamian people that would bring excitement into Grand Bahama in general – West End in particular – during Boxing Day. And to turn that excitement to get more of our people involved in the creative celebration of junkanoo as they sought to return West End to be the focus of attention on Boxing Day in Grand Bahama. “In fact”, Mr. Wilchcombe stated, “they wanted West End to be recognized as the place where the true Christmas celebrations begin on Grand Bahama.

“And so,” he went on, “we are staging junkanoo again with the wonderful assistance of Ginn, who is coming in as a major corporate sponsor this year. We will certainly invite others to be a part of it -- but during the years to come.

“This year Ginn is demonstrating their corporate citizenship by agreeing to become intimately involved in the staging of what I believe will be perhaps the best junkanoo celebration we have held in West End ever”.

Mr. John Davies, speaking on behalf of Ginn thanked the Minister publicly for affording Ginn the opportunity, on behalf of the people of West End, Grand Bahama, to assist.

Mr. Davies said that for the record they were just very happy and very glad to be part of the rebirth of this traditional celebration in West End. The fact that Ginn was working in West End makes it even better and provides more corporate purpose for what the corporation was doing in West End.
“We sincerely hope,” he added, “that this first event will be the first of many and will grow and become very successful in the years to come. And, again, I would just like to thank Mr. Wilchcombe and all the members of the Junkanoo Committee from West End.”

Mr. Wilchcombe pointed out that the West End Committee had been working now for several weeks and they had done a tremendous amount of work in a short period of time; and they were putting into West End some features that don’t even exist on Bay Street in Nassau.

The Minister pointed out, “We are revolutionizing this junkanoo parade by introducing new concepts, and we certainly hope that those who will make it to West End will see some new things happening in junkanoo and a much modernized approach to how the parade is presented.”

Jeff Albury, Chairman of the West End Junkanoo Committee revealed that the parade is scheduled for 2:00 am December 26, Boxing Day, and among the groups scheduled to appear are the Superstar Rockers, The Swingers, The West End Conquerors, The Arawak Invaders and the Fun Time Gikos, a new group,” said Albury.