Lady St. John renews call for Fishing Academy

A RENEWED call is being made for the establishment of a Fishing Academy in Oistins.

It comes from one of the founders of the Oistins Fish Festival, Stella Lady St. John who was delivering brief remarks at the official opening ceremony of the Oistins Fish Festival over the weekend.

While recalling the history of the event, now in its 40th year, Lady St. John noted that she with her late husband the late Sir Harold St. John wanted to see economic activity in the area, not by big business but by the ordinary men and women who lived in Oistins town and in the surrounding communities.

This, she said, led to life being breathed into what she described as what was a sleepy fishing village with a few shops and houses lining a narrow road, stretching from Welches in the west to Enterprise in the east. She said back in 1977 the festival led to the empowerment of the people of the area to become entrepreneurs.

“Using the fish and their skills at cooking and food preparation resulting in what we have here today. The liveliest Friday night spot in the Eastern Caribbean.”

She said however that she is not entirely pleased with everything that is seen in Oistins today, stressing that development must be taken to the next level.

“There is more to be done. As we continue to build on that strong foundation that was laid by my husband, the next stage is for the establishment of a Fishing Academy here in Oistins.”

“In this academy youngsters would be taught the rudiments of the fishing industry,both the theory and the practical, and on the 800 fishing boats operating out of Barbados, one or two apprentices could be taken on fishing expeditions with the experienced fisher folk of this area who would pass onto them the knowledge of the sea and fishing. They would be taught how to make fishing boats and fishing nets and all that is associated with the industry including business, fishing storage and marketing.”

“Take note that Oistins Fish Festival jump started the Bay Garden. And its great success has helped to earn much foreign exchange for Barbados. By extension we have seen the folks of this area have radically improved their standard of living through their association with the sea and fishing.”

“Today when jobs are seemingly so difficult to find. I ask the authorities to consider seriously the establishment of the Fishing Academy. Our young people would benefit enormously and would thank you for it,” she said. (JH)