The Tribune

The 22nd annual Coconut Festival has shrugged off the devastating blow from Hurricane Dorian and will go ahead as planned at Pelican Point next month, organisers have revealed.

“I am here to report that the residents of Pelican Point are resilient, resolved and determined. Hurricane Dorian may have slowed us down, but it will not stop us,” Cathy Laing, Coconut Festival committee chairman, said during a press conference at the festival grounds.

Organisers unveiled their plans for the three-day event, which begins on Friday, April 10, and concludes three days later. The festivities will kick-off with a gospel concert and fish fry at 3pm on April 10 at the festival site. This event will feature Grand Bahama’s best praise teams, dance teams and gospel performers.

On April 12, the committee will worship at the St Matthew’s Baptist Church grounds. The service starts at 10am and all are invited to attend. The Easter weekend activities will finish with the signature Coconut Festival on April 13. The annual event puts the coconut at centre stage with a wide range of tasty and fun creations.

Hundreds of Bahamians and visitors attend the festival each year to get their coconut craftwork and delicious treats such as coconut jimmy, coconut tart, coconut jam and Gully Wash. The festival also offers traditional Bahamian meals, some even available with a coconut-infused twist.

In addition to the food, the event engages its attendees with coconut barking contests as well as performances from top entertainers. This year’s roster includes performances by Veronica Bishop, KB, St George’s High Jags Pop Band, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band and the Platinum Knights Junkanoo Group.

“Please join us on Good Friday when we saturate these grounds with prayer, praise and worship. On Sunday, the worship continues at St Matthews, and then on Easter Monday, join us for culture, fun, food and coconuts,” Ms Laing said.

K Peter Turnquest, deputy prime minister and east Grand Bahama MP, emphasised the need for widespread support of this year’s event.

“I join with the committee and community leaders to encourage support for this festival and the residents of this community, many of whom need our collective support to rebuild and to restore their lives and what was lost,” Mr Turnquest said in a written statement.

“This year’s festival takes on an added level of thankfulness and remembrance. We give thanks for God’s continued blessings, even as we memorialiase and remember those lives lost during the storm and the utter devastation of private and public property.”

Steven Johnson, the Ministry of Tourism’s Grand Bahama general manager, praised the festival committee and Pelican Point community on their perseverance and decision to move forward with this year’s event. As a major sponsor for the Coconut Festival, Mr Johnson said the Ministry is working to ensure visitors across The Bahamas and around the world come out to experience the event.

“We want to show everybody that this festival is coming back stronger, so we are committed to doing whatever we can to make this event successful,” Mr Johnson added. “We want residents from Nassau and the Family Islands, as well as our international guests, to come out and experience Coconut Fest.

“Free transportation will be available to guests from all of the major hotels on the island. So any visitors interested in attending can just visit the front desk for information on attending the festival.”