#BTSpeakingOut –Put back fish into the Oistins Festival

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Rev. Buddy Larrier For Oistins Development Trust

The Oistins Development Trust (ODT) was formed in 1995 as a local community group to make sure that the people of Oistins are consulted and understand the changes that were coming to the fishing community. The ODT lobbied the fisherfolk to form the Oistins Fisherfolk Organisation.

It also advised the government not to name the Bay Garden after Berinda Cox as was planned but to focus on her contribution to the fish market instead.

Now the ODT is calling on the fisherfolk of Barbados in particular to demand that the government respect fisherfolk by putting back fish into the Oistins Festival.

Historically fisherfolk were not valued as equal members  of society, as no one wanted to be known as a son or daughter of a fishermen.

The Oistins Fish Festival that was started in 1967 brought about a change in the way fisherfolk were seen and respected.

The founding committee of the Oistins Fish Festival and subsequent Committees understood the importance and va!ue of the fish festival to fisherfolk.

Then came 2018 and a person with no connection to Oistins or the fishing community was elected as the representative of Christ Church South Constiuency and within two years Toni Thorne became the chairperson of the Oistins Fish
Festival Committee.

Neither the MP nor Ms. Thorne has had a conversation with the ODT, yet one of the first things that was done was to changed the name of the fish Festival that was in place for over 50 years giving focus on the importance of the lives of Fisherfolk, this change was without consultation with the fishing community.

This cannot be allowed, the fact that COVID-19 caused a two year hiatus of the festival should be a warning that the fishermen and fisherwomen not only of Oistins but across Barbados must be respected and appreciated for their contribution to society.

Put back fish into the Oistins Festival, respect the men and women who made
it what it is today.

The ODT has some ideas that can bring additional value to the fishing community and to the festival but these ideas are only applicable if the name Oistins Fish Festival is given the respect it was intended to achieved by the founding committee.