The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Arawak Cay Association’s president yesterday revealed he is considering the development of a second Fish Fry destination at South Beach to cater to growing communities near that area.

Rodney Russell told Tribune Business he has been eying a location in southern New Providence for a new Fish Fry but conceded that no formal proposal has been submitted to the Government. Nor have any architectural renderings of the proposed site been completed.

“We need a second fish [fry]," he argued. "We have many persons who have now retired and they still have good years to offer. We have persons who work in the hotels, around food, still have a lot to offer to younger Bahamians in the culinary arts department, but would like to have their own businesses. People come to me almost every day looking for the opportunity to open up their own business.

“We need to create and develop the Fish Fry of South Beach, which will be able to cater to all those persons who live in the south-west and also in Carmichael Road, Nassau East and the Yamacraw area, where we have the greater part of our population who are now living south of Carmichael Road."

Arawak Cay must remain a “touristic destination”, Mr Russell said, while leaving the proposed South Beach Fish Fry for locals to enjoy while giving them the option to still visit Arawak Cay.

The new Fish Fry would not take business away from the established Arawak Cay but, rather, serve as an “enhancement” that would relief congestion at the latter destination and also provide opportunities for new restaurateurs to enter the market. “The country is growing and we have to make more opportunities for people who want to get into business," Mr Russell said.

“I mentioned this to the Government several times. You have to talk about it first and, if they are interested, then they should say to me to give them more of what you are talking about and put it on paper. But they just listen as if they are only appeasing me. The powers that be have decided that this is foolishness.

“These bureaucrats don’t know how to bring anything out of the ground. They only know how to see what’s there, and emasculate it or take from it. But to bring it out of the ground and to give 'no name' Bahamians an opportunity to create wealth? The policy is not that. The policy is to only allow certain grounds to create wealth."

The Arawak Cay Fish Fry has yet to return to pre-COVID volumes despite the return of customers to the popular venue. The Independence Celebrations did little to help, Mr Russell adding: “Basically, people came to Arawak Cay for the fireworks and the concert, but they didn’t come to spend any money with the restaurants on Arawak Cay. It’s our regular patrons who have been coming to Arawak Cay over the years who are supporting us."