NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized and thanked the committee responsible for preparation of nomination papers submitted for Junkanoo to be considered for inscription on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Urgent Need of Safeguarding.

During a brief ceremony at the headquarters of the local office Thursday, February 18, His Excellency Desmond Edwards, UNESCO Ambassador and Permanent Delegate, said it was an honour working with the committee as they prepared the papers. 

“The Bahamas became State Party to the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 2014.  This is the first element our country has submitted for inscription since signing on to the Convention.

“It is our hope and I feel confident that the element will be inscribed. Junkanoo is the lifeblood of our cultural community. It is intrinsically a part of being Bahamian. We would like to see this cultural phenomenon continue, be preserved for generations to come, and receive official international designation,” said HE Ambassador Edwards.

Members of the committee are: Dion Miller, Chairman, JCNP; Andrew Edwards, JCNP; Arlene Nash-Ferguson, Junkanoo/cultural icon; Dr. Dwight Marshall, co-chair, NJC; Kishlane Smith, co-chair, NJC; Nicole Sutherland-King, attorney-at-law and professor, Eugene Dupuch Law School; Percy ‘Vola’ Francis, consultant, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and leader, Saxons Superstars; Henry Higgins, officer, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and leader, Conquerors for Christ; HE Edwards and Deidre Bevans, secretary general, The Bahamas National Commission for UNESCO.