BahamasLocal.com was on Andros Island over the weekend to take part in the annual All Andros Crab Festival and experienced first-hand just what it means to ‘catch da crab boy’.
The two-day event, which dates back to the late 90s and held during the second week of June, attracted thousands of residents from neighboring islands and visitors to 'The Land of the Crabs'.
While some chose to fly, the more venturesome embraced the route by sea facilitated by Bahamas Ferries, a two-and-a-half to three-hour adventure from Potter’s Cay Dock to Fresh Creek Harbor.
Hundreds gathered at Queen’s Park in Fresh Creek, Central Andros just over a couple of miles from the Andros Town Airport to sample exquisite delights such as crab soup, crab n dough, crab n rice and baked crab.
The list of crab dishes rivaled ‘Bubba’s shrimp monologue’ in the cult classic film ‘Forrest Gump’. This venue is the hub of entertainment and rich cultural experiences from crab catching and beating goatskin drums to “earthy” dance competitions.
Though the authentic crab catching experience requires trekking in the bushes for crabs, this experience was actually recreated around 10 p.m. on the fairgrounds as organizers released dozens of land crab in the middle of the venue to be caught and taken home by anyone attending the cultural event.
However, just prior to this event, there was a crab catching contest held inside an enclosed habitat, offering contestants an opportunity to display their skill at this age-old tradition.
From left to right : Francis Taylor, Sales & Marketing Director of BahamasLocal.com; The Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas, The Honorable Phillip "Brave" Davis; Sophia Taylor, BahamasLocal.com's photographer and the winner of the 2015 Crab Fest Crab catching competition.
It should be noted that this year’s first place winner was Sophia Taylor (Photographer) from BahamasLocal.com. Ms. Taylor had exactly 60 seconds to catch and remove the legs of at least four crabs, which she did with time to spare. A native of San Salvador was the runner up in this year’s crab catching competition.
Beyond the amazing economic stimulus to the island, Crab Fest reminded BahamasLocal.com of what island life is really all about; good-fellowship among some of the warmest people in the world. Also in attendance on Saturday at the various events were Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller, Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts and Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM Picewell Forbes.
BahamasLocal.com prides itself on being the premier search engine for all things Bahamian, and while we might not know everything, now “We know Crab Fest”.
Royston Jones
Guardian Staff Report
Photo Credit: Sophia Taylor
