The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation and the Ministry for
Grand Bahama partnered with the descendants of McLean’s Town and
went to great lengths to pull off the beloved McLean’s Town
Conch Cracking Festival on Monday, October 10, 2022, which had been
missing from the calendar for the last three years.
Hurricane Dorian ravaged the eastern end of the island in 2019.
The world-renowned event was back in full effect, much to the delight of
scores of Grand Bahama residents and visitors who made their way to the
east on Monday, which was the holiday observed as National Heroes Day.
The festival and homecoming, now in its 50th year, is celebrated as one of
the oldest in the country and its conch-themed delicacies and other native
food, drinks and competitions are certainly crowd pleasers.
Senator James Turner, who brought remarks on behalf of Minister for
Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, whom he acknowledged saw the
vision in the festival’s return when all seemed bleak, officially declared the
festival open.
“When I look at what has been done here, it is nothing short of a miracle.
So indeed God has been good to us,” he said.
Senator Turner also presented 88-year-old Pastor David Pinder, in whose
honour this year’s festival was held, a plaque for his dedication and
commitment to the McLean’s Town Conch Cracking Festival Association.
Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Coordinator of Groups and
Events Elaine Smith, and Committee Member Marcia Williams, expressed
excitement over seeing it all come to fruition and thanked everyone for
showing up and lending their support.
Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson also
marveled at the transformation of the area since the devastation of
Hurricane Dorian, and congratulated organizers and residents of McLean’s
Town for taking on such a mammoth task and seeing it through.
The crowd was also wooed throughout the day by the melodious sounds of
artists such St. Georges High School Pop Band, the Grand Bahama District
Police Pop Band, the Red Alert Band and Mello D; and entertained by those
taking part in the conch cracking and conch salad making competitions, and
Junkanoo Rush Out by The Swingers.
The Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation and the Ministry forGrand Bahama partnered with the descendants of McLean’s Town andwent to great lengths to pull off the beloved McLean’s TownConch Cracking Festival on Monday, October 10, 2022, which had beenmissing from the calendar for the last three years.
Hurricane Dorian ravaged the eastern end of the island in 2019.The world-renowned event was back in full effect, much to the delight ofscores of Grand Bahama residents and visitors who made their way to theeast on Monday, which was the holiday observed as National Heroes Day.The festival and homecoming, now in its 50th year, is celebrated as one ofthe oldest in the country and its conch-themed delicacies and other nativefood, drinks and competitions are certainly crowd pleasers.
Senator James Turner, who brought remarks on behalf of Minister forGrand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, whom he acknowledged saw thevision in the festival’s return when all seemed bleak, officially declared thefestival open.
“When I look at what has been done here, it is nothing short of a miracle.So indeed God has been good to us,” he said.
Senator Turner also presented 88-year-old Pastor David Pinder, in whosehonour this year’s festival was held, a plaque for his dedication andcommitment to the McLean’s Town Conch Cracking Festival Association.Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation Coordinator of Groups andEvents Elaine Smith, and Committee Member Marcia Williams, expressedexcitement over seeing it all come to fruition and thanked everyone forshowing up and lending their support.
Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson alsomarveled at the transformation of the area since the devastation ofHurricane Dorian, and congratulated organizers and residents of McLean’sTown for taking on such a mammoth task and seeing it through.
The crowd was also wooed throughout the day by the melodious sounds ofartists such St. Georges High School Pop Band, the Grand Bahama DistrictPolice Pop Band, the Red Alert Band and Mello D; and entertained by thosetaking part in the conch cracking and conch salad making competitions, andJunkanoo Rush Out by The Swingers.
