carnival

The government has prohibited the operation of Christmas Carnival citing the great health risk it poses on the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a late-afternoon press conference, Press Secretary Clint Watson read a statement from Prime Minister Philip Davis who said McCafferty’s Enterprises Bahamas Limited will not be permitted to operate.

“The Carnival organizers submitted a fresh application supported by additional 35 pages of information which sought to address the concerns raised by the experts. The panel considered their submission closely but decided that the transmission risk associated with the Carnival remained too high and the protocols presented would not sufficiently mitigate against the spread of COVID,” Davis said in a statement.

Davis said he gave his final word on the advice of the Ministry of Health, adding that the opening of the rides will pose a great health risk to the public as the more transmissible Omicron variant continue to cause alarm in countries around the world.

Davis also said the opening will hamper the opening of schools in January.

The big story

The operation of the Christmas Carnival has become controversial in recent days as some argue it can become a super spreader event. Minister of Health Michael Darville denied the company was allowed to open even though the rides were permitted to set up on Clifford Park.

However, Senator Maxine Seymour tabled a letter in the Senate showing the Ministry of Finance had given the Progressive Liberal Party permission to import “equipment, apparatus, trailers and supplies” for the event.

This is the first time, Davis is lending his voice to the matter as many awaited his response to the debacle.

What’s next?

Lawyers for the company said yesterday it would still operate whether or not health officials approved their application.

Now that the approval application has again been denied by the government, reports are the company will leave the country.

It remains to be seen if the company will file a lawsuit against the government. When asked by a reporter if the government expects a lawsuit, Watson who did not take any questions from reporters only said he will address the matter on Friday.

The Christmas Carnival will open regardless of the Ministry of Health’s decision for it to operate or not as health officials worry that COVID-19 cases could rise amidst threatening levels of the Omicron virus around the world.

Attorney Bjorn Ferguson, a lawyer for the company that operates the rides, spoke to the Nassau Guardian standing firm in the company’s decision to operate nonetheless.

Ferguson said the carnival was ready to open on Wednesday night.

As of late Wednesday night, the group was reported to be in a meeting with health officials and a conclusion had not yet been made on whether or not the company, McCafferty’s Enterprises Bahamas Limited, will be permitted to operate’ and its application approved.

“That body does not have the authority in law to shut a business down. That is our position. They exist to provide guidelines and issue protocols and approve protocols from various businesses and industries,” Ferguson said.

He said his clients were only in the meeting to await the ministry’s approval of its COVID 19 protocols and to add more guidelines to ensure a safe environment.

“We’re not going to open without protocols.”

“If they don’t respond to us, then the protocols that we have submitted we’re going to presume that they are sufficient to operate in this environment. We want their input. They’re the scientists.

“They have a statutory function and, so, we want their input and we want to remain compliant with the law. So, we resubmitted the protocol document as required and requested by law.

“We’re waiting for that document to be approved. If it’s not approved, then we’re waiting on guidelines to be issued or some protocols to be issued by the ministry,” Ferguson said.

The big story

The pandemic has threatened the opening of the Carnival which became an annual event for families. This year, it became controversial since government sought to open it while infections spread.

The Ministry of Health initially denied the application for its operation in the country, even though the owners were setting up for operation.

When faced with accusations by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, Health and Wellness Minister Michael Darville denied granting the approval, while the Prime Minister Philip Davis has remained mum. The operators said they were given permission by Davis.

A letter tabled by Senator Maxine Seymour on Tuesday, purportedly showed that the Carnival company was granted access by the Ministry of Finance who granted the Progressive Liberal Party temporary approval to bring in “equipment, apparatus, trailers and supplies” for the event.

It remains to be seen whether or not the ministry will approve the operation of the event; and if not, how the Carnival company will respond.

Health Minister Michael Darville absconded blame for the arrival of Holiday Carnival into the country as health officials worry about the increase of COVID-19 cases on the verge of Omicron, the new strain.

Darville faced criticism for permitting the carnival rides, but he said he did not.

The health minister said owners of the Holiday Carnival made an application to his ministry to host the event from December to January. But his ministry only “acknowledged  the application and gave recommendations on how to improve the COVID19 protocols,” adding that the ministry is still awaiting a response from the owners.

The trailers and equipment for the amusement park are set up at Clifford Park, but Darville said his ministry is not responsible for “the importation… of non-medical items.”

At the last parliamentary house sitting, former Prime Minister and Killarney MP Hubert Minnis raised concerns about Carnival since children who represent the largest number of unvaccinated people in the country, will be attracted to the activities.

“Did he get approval from the medical professionals? Because I find it very difficult under these circumstances with such a virulent virus rampant throughout the world, that they would approve such an activity at this particular point in time.”

“Who authorized it to come in?…There has been some breach or violation of protocol with this carnival which is very dangerous under the circumstances of the Omicron virus,” Minnis said.

Darville responded that the proprietors needed to meet additional requirements before “the final decision to be made.”

Darville continued, “I’m unware if those requirements arrived to the committee.” He said as of 1pm on Thursday there was no approval given.