Paquetá Island carnival parade faces potential ban

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro are moving to prevent an unsanctioned carnival parade by the group Boto Marinho on Paquetá Island. Residents of the island have filed a digital petition and appealed to the Rio de Janeiro Public Ministry (MPRJ) to stop the event, citing concerns over public order.

Local agencies, including Riotur and the Municipal Secretariat of Public Order (Seop), stated that no authorization was requested for the procession. The Fire Department and Military Police also confirmed they received no official communication or requests for event clearance.

In response to the organizers' estimate of approximately 7,000 attendees, the State Secretariat of Transport and Urban Mobility (Setram) has increased ferry services by adding ten extra trips to accommodate the expected demand. Organizers have defended the event, claiming the opposition is driven by prejudice and intolerance toward popular culture.