The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Arawak Cay Association’s president yesterday said two new Fish Fry-style destinations need to be created on New Providence as he moves to bring new stalls appearing east of Arawak Cay Drive into his membership.

Rodney Russell, the Arawak Cay Association’s president, told Tribune Business: “I believe any Bahamian who wants to do something for themselves should have an opportunity to do something for themselves. I have always believed in that and I believe we can do more. For the amount of persons who come to me looking for a place or trying to find a place, I think we need to create two new Fish Fry’s for Bahamians.”

He suggested that western and southern New Providence should host these Fish Fry locations, adding that he is in the process of organising a meeting with the Government to identify potential sites. Mr Russell argued: “When you look at the population and where the population is, we should not have everyone coming to one area.

“Most Bahamians believe in jamming everything up, but when we have people widely spread the way this island is spread, we need to create a Fish Fry in the south and one in the far west instead of having everyone merge into one area. So, by creating these two new Fish Frys, we should have more farmers able to sell their product, and more fishermen will be able to fish.

“So whenever I get a chance to sit with the Government, I will tell them I want to put a Fish Fry in South Beach and one in the far west because the population is moving west of Gladstone Road, and persons should be able to have a Fish Fry in these areas. When you look at the amount of people who live south of Carmichael Road, we have more people who live south of Carmichael Road than we do people who live north of Carmichael Road.”

The current Arawak Cay Fish Fry was formed by chance some 30 years ago when the Government saw the need to organise vendors who were selling their produce by the roadside. Given how this worked out, Mr Russell sees more opportunities for expansion. “I believe if we were able to create these things, and if the Government would assist me in helping Bahamians create these two new Fish Frys, this could increase the number of people involved in the fishing industry,” he said.

“If the Government does give me an opportunity, I also want to create grill pits in those two new areas so our farmers, who do husbandry, can sell more of their pigs and piglets. So you would have an atmosphere that’s just a little different from Arawak Cay, because Arawak Cay just sells fish and conch primarily. These new areas will be doing grills, but anything I can do to help my people expand and create and develop, I will do that so we can compete against these fast food companies.”

As for the new stalls appearing at Arawak Cay, Mr Russell said: “Lands and Parks (Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority (BPPBA) are responsible for that area, and they decide who gets what and who is allowed to operate there. I don’t know if they had a moratorium there. A lot of us just want to jam up in one spot, and that’s when everything gets crowded, and when it becomes saturated then everyone starts to complain.

“I have seen new stalls going up, but it has nothing to do with us on the next side of the road. Lands and Parks monitors that and they pay a lot of attention to that area, so if you see new structures going up, the BPPBA have sanctioned it.”

“This is why I want to talk to the Government because I would like to bring everybody under one umbrella. Somehow these politicians prefer to have these things scattered for some reason, but if we are able to get what we need I’m going to bring all of them under subjection and create some uniformity and some rules and regulations.”

Mr Russell said there was never any intention to expand east of Arawak Cay Drive because the area is prone to tidal surges and flooding. “That’s why the new areas I’m proposing for the south and west will be built on stilts, so we don’t have to worry about flooding,” he added.