Three Haitian bands banned from Labor Day carnival, 2 say reasons ‘bogus’ 

NEW YORK — Labor Day carnival organizers barred T-Vice, TonyMix and SakPase Nation from appearing on Eastern Parkway because the bands violated safety and costume rules, the association’s board chair told The Haitian Times Thursday. But two of the bands rejected the stated reasons, with one representative alleging that the decision was unprofessional, biased and hurtful to the Haitian community.

“We have pictures and photos, [they] were not compliant with the number of people they have on their trucks, which is a security issue and safety issue,” said Cecille Ford, board secretary and chair of mas for the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA). 

“Our parade is really a costumed parade and they did not comply with that either,” Ford said. “It has been happening consistently over years and we have spoken to them… I had told them last year the rules were going to be enforced. They [took] it as a joke.”

“With these particular DJs, it seems to be a competition about sound and not about the cultural aspect of the presentation, the cultural nature of what we are bringing to the parkway,” she added. “That is key for this parade. It’s a portrayal of Caribbean culture.”

As of Thursday, five Haitian groups were approved to participate in the carnival, an iconic 2-mile procession now in its 59th year that draws more than 1 million revelers. Ford said Ram, Lespri Ayiti/Team Madada, RockFam, KG and Lamar were the five Haitian groups slated for Monday’s parade. 

TonyMix, SakPase say suspension reasons ‘bogus’ 

Johnny Joseph, TonyMix’s manager, rejected Ford’s statements forcefully and alleged that she was unprofessional because she did not let him know until August that TonyMix was suspended. He said the suspension hurts Haitian fans and vendors who were counting on the larger crowds to earn some money, particularly with thousands out of work because their TPS immigration status was revoked.

“She picked the three major bands that we have to kick them out,” Joseph said. “So, what does that mean?

“It’s because you don’t want the Haitians on the Parkway.

“You don’t stop Tony, you stop 1 million people from having fun,” Joseph continued. “We usually have people on the Parkway selling water, food, stuff like that. Those people, they’re out of business right now.”

As for having too many people on the TonyMix’s float last year, Joseph said he started off with only 15 people aboard. As they rolled along the Parkway, some fans evaded the two security guards he hired to keep people from hopping on it by jumping onto the back of the truck. When he tried to have the truck’s assigned NYPD escort remove those fans, Joseph said the police officer insisted he keep moving.

As far as having no costume, he said, “It’s a lie, because I got proof of all my girls with a costume.” 

Joseph said Ford and her team were also not professional because they waited until August, when he went to register, to tell him TonyMix was suspended. He said he had hired nine security guards to help keep people from jumping on the truck, but she refused his solution. 

James “007” Francois, CEO of Sak Pase Nation, also alleges that the suspension is motivated for reasons having to do with political maneuverings and called them “bogus.” He said since 2025 was his first year, he could not have been warned in years prior. He also had costumes and he denied having too many people aboard the float.

“They just have a personal vendetta against Haitians and Jamaicans,” Francois said. “They want to clean house in time for their 60th anniversary [next year].

“Nobody’s being honest,” he added.

T-Vice’s manager had returned a message seeking comment as of this writing. 

Bias rumors resurface, denied 

After TonyMix and T-Vice posted on social media Thursday that they would not be performing, some fans and followers assumed the groups were not performing as a show of solidarity with the community, at a time when ICE is terrorizing Haitians in its quest to meet deportation numbers. Others wrote that it was probably due to a lack of sponsorship. 

Still others insinuated the carnival’s organizers were being anti-Haitian, a recurring accusation that has surfaced in prior years when Haitian bands were denied entry. 

Ford rejected the allegations of bias against Haitians and insists the suspension is about the rule violations.

“To craft the story that we are not inclusive of the community is really incorrect,” Ford said. “They did not follow the WIADCA rules, which are clearly outlined. This is the reason they were suspended.”

Mickael Marabou, WIADCA’s Haitian community liaison for the carnival, said the suspensions are not the end of the relationships with the affected bands. 

“Our goal remains to work together and present the strongest and most beautiful display of Haitian culture possible on Eastern Parkway,” she said in a statement texted to The Haitian Times. 

“I will continue working closely with them so they can address the committee’s concerns, meet the necessary requirements and hopefully return to participate next year.” 

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