People from all walks of life in Anguilla are still talking aboutFestivalDelMar last weekend, April 7 and 8, which was both a huge attraction and a huge success.
It is an annual cultural and traditional event of food, music and sport in celebration of the sea, in the fishing village ofIslandHarbour, now in its fifth year as anIslandHarbourcommunity function. It has caught the attention of a growing number of visitors from across theCaribbeanand various other parts of the world.
“Mr. OthlynVanterpool, and his committee, have demonstrated a high level of organisation, skill and foresight and this will go down a long way in the history of Anguilla,” Minister of Culture, Edison Baird, stated at the opening ceremony. “Up and down in the Caribbean, people are talking aboutFestivalDelMar and we have to give credit to Mr. Vanterpool and his committee. I am very pleased, too, that my ministry, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Tourism and the Island Harbour Community have all come together to financially make Festival Del Mar possible.It is a very good event, and we must continue to do everything within our power [to keep it alive].”
Director of Tourism, Candis Niles, joined in commending the very hardworking committee for putting on the high level of performance.
The event brought together milling throngs of people, from all across Anguilla, who flocked to Island Harbour Bay and enjoyed two days of fun and fellowship with the community where fishing, boating and the sea are predominant ways of life.
Committee Chairman, Mr. Vanterpool, told The Anguillian at the end of the festival: “I thought it went pretty good. It exceeded my expectations. I expected a big year but, believe you me, it went far beyond what I thought. What I was particularly pleased about was the good behaviour of the people in general. There were no incidents. Everyone came out and enjoyed themselves. There were lots of vendors and food. Especially on the Sunday night, the crowd for the Pat Ross and Benjax show was real good. TheIslandHarbourcommunity, the committee and I have been very pleased, and all the comments are positive.
“The people are showing much more interest in what is going on. Many of them have been giving suggestions and willing to come on board and make it even greater as we go on. I think 2012 has been a good year and I can see all positives from here on. We just have to work at it.”
Asked about some of the additional possibilities, Mr. Vanterpool replied: “We will be reviewing our decisions going forward as to what we are going to do. We will have to look at issues like finances where we have to charge persons for extra service in order to achieve sustainability and self-sufficiency in terms of funds. This time, the performances of Pat Ross and Benjax were free because it was our Fifth Anniversary, but we will have to look at ways and means of raising funds. The main expenses basically included the lighting, entertainment and stage and not really the various prizes.”
Mr. Vanterpool said that the cost of this year’s festival was between 28,000 and 30,000 US dollars. He hoped that when all the funds and bills were received that the income and expenditure would break even. But, aside from the costs involved, Mr. Vanterpool was delighted that Festival Del Mar had been a great success and a highly enjoyable event at Island Harbour.
