Forest Heights Academy rushed to victory in the senior high school division of the 27th Annual Junior Junkanoo Parade with the theme “The Four Seasons.” The Forest Heights Academy representatives were among hundreds of Family Island residents who were able to participate in last month’s parade thanks, in part, to a ten-year partnership between Bahamas Ferries and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
Bahamas Ferries partnered with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for the tenth consecutive year to provide transportation for Family Island students participating in the annual Junior Junkanoo parade.
The inter-island transportation service provider, through its collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, arranged for 467 students and chaperones from schools in Abaco, Andros and Eleuthera to travel into Nassau for the event, held in December. Four schools were represented in all, including two of the year’s winners: Tarpum Bay Primary School – primary school division winner; Forest Heights Academy – senior high school division winner; Central Abaco Primary School; and Harbour Island All Age School.
In past years, Bahamas Ferries also provided travel into Nassau for the Spanish Wells All Age, North Andros High, South Andros High and Mangrove Cay High schools.
Since 2004, Bahamas Ferries has helped 3,000 Family Island students to participate in the annual event. According to Bahamas Ferries Sales and Marketing Manager Darnell Frazer, this involvement is one that the company is especially proud of.
“Supporting this event was a natural fit for us. We wholeheartedly endorse Family Island schools participating in Junior Junkanoo, particularly since we operate in Abaco, Andros and Eleuthera,” Mrs Frazer said. “We feel a tremendous sense of pride because it is challenging for Family Island schools to participate in the parade as it can be very costly. So, for one of them to win, that’s a mammoth accomplishment. We congratulate all the schools.”
Mrs Frazer stated that Bahamas Ferries takes seriously its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves and is always seeking new opportunities to support youth programmes. She noted that these core values are what motivated Bahamas Ferries to become involved in helping students around the country participate in the cultural festival.
“Partnering with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for Junior Junkanoo ties in perfectly with our commitment to supporting wholesome youth initiatives, especially ones benefiting young people in the Family Islands we serve,” Mrs Frazer said. “We believe that Junior Junkanoo is a spectacular display of Bahamian culture, art, music and dance, which can spark creativity in our youth. That is something we fully endorse.”
As part of their arrangement, Bahamas Ferries has extended a 50 per cent discount to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, which amounts to over $161,000 that the company has contributed in their support of Junior Junkanoo.