Strong overall turnout at Oistins Fish Festival overshadowed by concerns

Thousands flocked to the Oistins Fish Festival over the Easter weekend, but while crowds filled the seaside venue and enjoyed the festive atmosphere, several patrons and vendors voiced concerns about safety, organisation, and sanitation.

On Tuesday, Renaldo, a long-time attendee of more than three decades, said the event still held value despite troubling incidents near its close.

“I mean, I’m pretty sure a death would definitely mess it up, but… everything was okay,” he said.

But he pointed to several shortcomings, including poor advertising and a lack of clearly scheduled activities, saying he watched most of them on his phone, particularly the few on Saturday.

He noted that on Easter Monday, he was standing just a short distance away and “did not even realise” the Greasy Pole competition was happening.

Reflecting on how the festival has changed over the years, Renaldo added: “Back in the times… you have to get your best suit for three days… but now… I put on something simple.”

Sanitation also emerged as a major issue for some workers on the ground.

Janelle Jordan, a general worker at Oistins Bay Garden, said the amount of garbage generated during the festival was concerning, despite bins being provided.

“Although they put out the trash bins… there was a lot of trash… they had the bottles on the table,” she said.

She added that the volume of patrons contributed to the issue. “There was an overflow of traffic… everybody gathers in here… so in here… [there’s] the majority of the garbage.”

Jordan said while workers are accustomed to managing the cleanup, patrons need to take more responsibility.

She also expressed personal reservations about attending the festival, citing both crowd sizes and safety concerns.

“I don’t like crowds… everywhere you go, somebody get shoot, somebody gets stabbed. So I prefer to just… let it miss me,” she said, adding that she does not bring her child to the event.

Similarly, a staff member at Baba’s Delights acknowledged the strong turnout but raised concerns about behaviour among younger patrons.

“It was fairly good… a lot of people turn out,” she said.

But, she added, “I think the young people should really get a grip of themselves… if you come out to enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself and go home. Stop this fighting… it’s not nice.”

She stressed that the festival should be a safe space for all, especially older patrons.

“Other people come to enjoy themselves… they should be enjoying themselves and go back home and say that we had a nice… lovely time.”

Other vendors highlighted concerns about the layout and accessibility of events.

A fruit vendor stationed near the Berinda Cox Fish Market said activities did not reach all areas of the venue.

“None of it really filtered down… you don’t really got much visibility,” she explained, adding that she would have preferred events to be positioned closer so vendors and patrons in that area could participate.

She also noted a perceived decline in activity compared to previous years.

“A lot of the people who came throughout the years… they’ll tell you straight off how things slow down,” she said, pointing to rising prices as a possible factor.

Another fruit vendor, operating near the Oistins Bus Terminal, took a more optimistic view, expressing gratitude for the turnout despite modest sales.

“I don’t complain… wherever small mercy I get, I take it,” he said.

“It was a lot of movement… but it wasn’t no big, lot of sale, but it had a lot of movement.”

While some vendors admitted they did not attend many of the organised events due to work commitments or safety concerns, the consensus was that the festival still attracted significant crowds, particularly in the evening.