Oistins is expected to teem with people this weekend as thousands flock to the annual Easter weekend Oistins Fish Festival.
Amidst their anxiety in ensuring the event runs smoothly, Dr Dan Carter and Herbie Yearwood will also be beaming with pride at seeing how the baby they nurtured has grown over the last 41 years, putting the Christ Church fishing district on the map.
Carter was president of the Hilltop Youth Group which first mooted the idea of a fish festival for Oistins. Wednesday, in the small office in the complex of the Berinda Cox Fish market that is the nerve centre for the festival’s co-ordination, he and Yearwood reflected on the early days.
“I believe that the idea came as a result of the Holetown Festival. That idea resonated with the youth group and they followed through with the idea of an Oistins Festival,” Carter said.
They gave credit to Stella Lady St John, whose interest in the idea was piqued back then, causing her to get involved with the early planning and execution of the festival. It was her late husband Sir Harold St John who roped in Yearwood about four years after it started.
Carter, a retired educator, explained: “Some of the goals of the youth group would have been to enhance the community at that time; bring greater recognition to the fisherfolk and provide some economic benefits for the people participating.”
“It started as a street fair but over time it has broadened its scope and it is recognised now as a national festival.”
Activities such as a fish-boning competition, dolphin skinning and fishing boat races cast the spotlight on the fisherfolk, while fun events such as climbing the greased pole allowed for wider community participation in the festival.
In addition, youth groups in the district were encouraged to raise funds by setting up stalls around the festival grounds.
But in the interview, Carter said he regretted some of those early events were no longer attracting the kind of public interest that they did in the past.
However, features such as the tattoo by the Mounted Branch of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Easter Sunday Gospel Concert remain big drawing cards, as he said would be evidenced by the large crowd expected to turn out for today’s concert.
Both men are heartened that the festival continues to grow, despite sponsorship headaches from the outset. The estimated cost of running the Oistins Fish festival is about $150 000 and the organisers have always had to rely on “private assistance” to execute the event.
“We suffered greatly for the lack of sponsorship, but even with the lack of sponsorship, the festival has developed over the years,” said Yearwood, a retired businessman.
“We have had many difficult times, but I must say it has done very well even with the lack of help,” he added.
Faithful sponsors such as Banks Holdings Limited, Granny’s, and some tourism agencies bought into the idea when the festival was first mooted and threw their support behind it. Others such as the Silver Fox Arcade, the National Cultural Foundation remain consistent in their support.
Yearwood said the picture had been more encouraging this year, with new sponsors such as Butterfly Beach Hotel, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Caribbean LED Lighting, Chefette Limited and Cockspur Rum, while the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., the Barbados Tourism Product Authority and the Tourism Development Corporation have seen in it an ideal opportunity to promote what Barbados has to offer.
The organisers have also managed to secure the services of a marketing company that has worked on reviving promotion of aspects of the festival that may have declined over the years and Yearwood commended Alex McDonald and his team who he said “have been doing a tremendous job”.
The Sir Harold Bernard St John lecture series is one of the new features that has brought a new dimension to the festival.
But Yearwood and Carter are growing older and want to see a young team getting involved in the running of the festival.
The organising committee of about ten all gave their services voluntarily, and Carter added: “The appeal would be for young persons and people with specific skills to join in the organisation.”
As he contemplates passing the baton, Carter expresses satisfaction at what the festival has accomplished.
“The fisherfolk in Oistins have seen a tremendous social improvement. The image, the way they carry themselves is different from in my days as a boy. They feel proud of Oistins,” Carter said.
The resident of nearby Thornbury Hill recalled the Oistins of his boyhood days and he surmised the building of a new fish market and the establishment of the fish festival may have been the catalysts for the new sense of pride he sees among fisherfolk, especially the women.
“There is clearly a new consciousness among the fisherfolk about their importance,” Carter said.
Crowds at the Oistins Fish Festival over the Easter weekend have been recorded at 40 000 people.
For Carter and Yearwood, it is confirmation their hard work over the years has paid off. (GC)
