First Union Island conch festival hailed a success

OVER THE last weekend in February, persons on Union Island were treated to various conch dishes as the Union Island Tourist Board held the first Union Island Conch Festival.

Hundreds of persons flocked to the front of the Fisheries Complex in Clifton on Saturday where the chefs showcased conch prepared in every imaginable form. Dishes included conch water, stew conch, conch salads, conch fritters, curry conch, grilled conch, conch chowder, pasta with conch and conch hamburgers. Persons were treated to these dishes free of charge.

Rondy “Luta” McIntosh judging one of the conch dishes at the festival

The Conch Festival, which ran from Friday February 28 to Sunday March 1 even attracted the likes of former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam.

The event also saw various competitions with the chefs competing to see who could pull off the best conch dishes. There were also other fun competitions, the conch and dumpling eating competition, conch cleaning competition, conch shell blowing competition and beer drinking competition.

A conch shell cake made by baker Keith Williams was also on display while a conch ornament was put up for auction and was sold to the highest bidder.

The Conch Festival also saw restaurants and cooks serving up a variety of conch dishes at their establishments, while the festival also featured arts and craft and cultural performances.

Dumpling eating competition at the conch festival

Educational booths also helped to bring awareness to the conch, the conch Industry and its sustainability while persons were educated on the legal size for harvesting conch and the role it plays in our ecosystem. Other seafood such as lobster and fish were also on sale.

It was noted that the Conch Festival is part of a larger plan by the Tourist Board to promote Union Island as a destination for unique events or simply relaxation.

It is envisioned that the festival could eventually become an international culinary attraction for SVG and contribute to culinary tourism which is a major focal point for Community Based Tourism as SVG tries to grow both international and domestic tourism numbers.

The festival ended on Sunday March 1 with “Conch on the Beach” at the Sparrows Beach Club. There, conch dishes were on sale and local entertainment was provided by Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, Bert One-man Band, Mark Simmons on Pan and several Local DJs.

Chairman of the Union Island Tourist Board Stanton Gomes had noted prior to the festival that conch has played a vital role in the economy of Union Island and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on a whole.

Conch shell cake made by baker Keith Williams

“Today, even more than ever, persons on Union Island are earning a good living from conch and some local restaurants have made it part of the island’s cuisine,” said Gomes.

The festival is a build up to the Union Island Easterval week of events which runs from April 5 to 13. Also, on May 15, persons are invited to experience a unique cultural experience with big drum dancing and other activities.