Junior Junkanoo made quite a splash as it hit the main thoroughfare in Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera during the first weekend in March, on Saturday the 2nd, with primary, junior high, all age and senior high schools putting in the time and effort to solidify the growth and continuation of the time-honoured tradition with students throughout Eleuthera.
Two high schools, including Central Eleuthera High School (CEHS), and Preston H. Albury High School (PHAHS), competed for bragging rights in the high school division of the parade competition. One all age school – Harbour Island All Age (HIAAS), represented in its division, and one junior high school – Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS), showcased their creativity and talent in the division. These were preceded by four schools competing in the primary division, including, Emma E. Cooper primary (EECP), Tarpum Bay primary (TBPS), Rock Sound primary (RSPS), and Gregory Town primary school (GTPS).
The parade showcased the work and effort of many weeks, with colourful lead banners, foot-stomping brass and drum lines, costumes of all kinds, a variety of choreographed dance lines, and themes that ran the gamut, from ‘one love’, to Preston’s ‘golden jubilee’, as well as concepts like, ‘splendours of the deep’.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Hon. Mario Bowleg, was in attendance, in support of the junior event, accompanied by the Hon. Clay Sweeting, Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, along with Kishlane Smith – Deputy Co-Chair of the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), as well as other officials.
Following a brief opening ceremony, the parade got underway on time at about 5:00pm, and continued until well after 10pm, as each school showed off their creativity, and unbridled passion of youth for the art of junkanoo in two sets of laps.
As final groups readied to complete their second lap, NJC Deputy Co-Chair Kishlane Smith, after witnessing the full spectacle of the first lap of the junior junkanoo, commented on the quality she had seen, saying, “I am so privileged to see that Eleuthera has junkanoo live and vibrant. And I am happy to see that it is not New Providence-centric. I am happy to see that we have a very disciplined school grouping, and the potential of the authenticity of junkanoo on Eleuthera.
“What is even more joyous is that you can clearly see that the students did the work. That is something that is lacking on some of the other islands, and I’m so happy to see it. And you can see that these schools took the time. Some of these schools are completed from front to back, and what is fascinating is that they clearly told their stories. The exhibits of the themes were clear, with no obscurity. You understood what they were bringing, and how they were bringing it, from the banner to the back. I am very impressed…”
Deputy Co-Chair Smith, also shared her thoughts on some of the improvements that could be made going forward, “From the National Junkanoo Committee’s perspective, we will make certain that barricades are here for the next parade because we recognize the volume of the viewing audience, both locals and our visitors. We also see the potential for revenue generating opportunities for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture here on Eleuthera. Also, there are some measures we have to install in the rules to mitigate delays, and gaps during the parade. We are going to ensure that all schools and all groups understand being ready at the start of the parade.
She continued, “The potential of Eleuthera’s discipline is refreshing, but we just have to put measures in place, and make certain that it is communicated in ample time. So that everyone knows what the rules are, they understand what the rules are, and more importantly that they will agree to adhere to the rules… I am also impressed by the volume of the participants in the schools, and happy to see the maturity of the parcipating children. They listen, ‘yes ma’am, no ma’am’. So, I am very excited, because the potential of Eleuthera is a go. This is a place where we will focus our energies, and I am glad that I am here to physically see it – because, in the past we were just waiting to receive reports. But, we can now physically see how we can help, and allow Eleutherans to propel themselves to the upper echelons of junkanoo in the country. So, again congratulations to Eleuthera.”
A special tally team, camped out at the nearby Emily G. Petty Primary school, near the parade site, readied the results as the junior junkanoo parade came to a close. So, as the final drumline made their way off of the main thoroughfare, officials gathered, along with the senior high groups who had performed at the end, as Ms. Smith announced the final results.
Category titles in the primary division for best banner, costume and best music, best choreography and theme portrayal were all taken by Tarpum Bay primary.
In the junior high division, represented solely by Deep Creek Middle School, and in the all age school division, represented by Harbour Island All Age School, there were no competitors. So, those schools took home the trophies in their categories. Gregory Town primary, in the B Primary Division was also uncontested.
In the senior high grouping, Preston H. Albury High walked away with a clean sweep, winning best music and theme portrayal, along with the titles for best choreography, costume and best banner.
Overall 2024 Junior Junkanoo Parade winners announced in the five divisions were: Tarpum Bay Primary School with 711 points in the primary division; Gregory Town Primary in the primary B division uncontested; Harbour Island All Age School in the all age division uncontested; Deep Creek Middle School in the junior school division uncontested; and Preston H. Albury High School with 690 points in the senior school division.
Corporate sponsorship in support of this year’s junior junkanoo was once again taken on by Disney Cruise Line (DCL), which for the 2024 parade, increased its funding of Junior Junkanoo Eleuthera by 50%, totaling $75,000, to fund costumes, materials, cash prizes for each participating school and travel costs for the winning Eleuthera team to compete at the national level.
See Official Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Results in the 2024 Eleuthera Junior Junkanoo Parade Competition and MORE PHOTOS below:
SENIOR SCHOOL DIVISION
BEST BANNER
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 71 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 61 PTS
BEST MUSIC
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 138 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 129 PTS
BEST OVERALL GROUP PERFORMANCE
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 121 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 115 PTS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 73 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 70 PTS
BEST EXECUTION OF THEME
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 70 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 62 PTS
BEST OVERALL GROUP COSTUME
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 217 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 178 PTS
OVERALL SENIOR SCHOOL WINNER
1ST PRESTON H. ALBURY HIGH – 690 PTS
2ND CENTRAL ELEUTHERA HIGH – 615 PTS
PRIMARY SCHOOL DIVISION
BEST BANNER
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 77 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 70 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 67 PTS
BEST MUSIC
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 129 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 101 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 89 PTS
BEST OVERALL GROUP PERFORMANCE
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 125 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 112 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 109 PTS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 71 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 66 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 66 PTS
BEST PORTRAYAL OF THEME
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 78 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 73 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 65 PTS
BEST COSTUME
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 230 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 188 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 183 PTS
OVERALL PRIMARY SCHOOL WINNER
1ST TARPUM BAY PRIMARY – 711 PTS
2ND ROCK SOUND PRIMARY – 610 PTS
3RD EMMA E. COOPER PRIMARY – 579 PTS
PRIMARY SCHOOL B DIVISION
UNCONTESTED – GREGORY TOWN PRIMARY
JUNIOR SCHOOL DIVISION
UNCONTESTED – DEEP CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
ALL AGE SCHOOL DIVISION
UNCONTESTED – HARBOUR ISLAND ALL AGE SCHOOL
