THE TOBAGO Blue Food Festival on Sunday honoured several of its pioneers to mark the event’s silver jubilee.
THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and assistant secretary in the Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Megan Morrison presented awards to Casilda Charles; Ethlyn Chance; Denisha Kerr; Eldica Sharp, Jerry Chance; Reynold Chance and Barrington Nedd.
The presentations took place during the official part of the festival, at the Bloody Bay Recreation Ground.
Tobago Festivals Commission CEO John Arnold gave an overview of the festival.
Arnold told the gathering, which included Chief Justice Ivor Archie and his wife Denise Rodriguez-Archie, the event started in L’Anse Fourmi in 1998. with 150-200 people.
[caption id="attachment_1040497" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A visitor speaks with a parrot at the Tobago Blue Food Festival at Bloody Bay Recreation Ground on Sunday.PHOTO COURTESY THA[/caption]
He added in the early years, it used to be held on the field in front of the community centre.
As the festival progressed, it was moved to the recreation ground, and the neighbouring communities of Bloody Bay and Parlatuvier also became a part of the event.
“So right now, the current version is that we have three villages that collaborate and they work very good together to make this event a reality.”
With the help of the Tobago House of Assembly, over the years, the Blue Food Festival is now a signature event on the island’s cultural calendar, he said.
In brief remarks, Augustine promised a permanent structure for the festival will be completed for next year’s event.
“Last year, I told you that we would do some development plans for the site, and I am happy to say that we have started and so by the time you return next year, we will have a fully built-out blue-food facility right here in Bloody Bay that will be available to you round the year, 12 months per year and not just seasonally, which means you will have far more comfortable facilities year-round,” he said.
Augustine, too, acknowledged that the blue food festival, which began as a village activity, has blossomed into a global event, attracting hundreds of locals and tourists alike annually.
He especially welcomed foreign-based Tobagonians who returned to the island for the festival.
More than 30 vendors sold dasheen-based delicacies and other items at the festival.
[caption id="attachment_1040499" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A vendor shows her crab dish at the Tobago Blue Food Festival at Bloody Bay Recreation Ground on Sunday.PHOTO COURTESY THA[/caption]
Yzanne Williams-Chance’s booth, Calypso Girl Experience, was one of the more popular booths. There, patrons could buyfruit cake, kurma, dasheen wine, fudge, sweetbread, sponge cake, pone and ice cream.
Williams-Chance said she has been selling at the festival since 2004 and has won numerous titles, including best-tasting dish, best dessert and best drink.
Asked what is unique about her products, Williams-Chance said, “My items are strictly fr
