The Tribune

The organising committee for the All-Andros Crab Festival has visited the minister of tourism as it gears up to welcome 10,000 Bahamians and visitors to the 2019 version.

For more than 20 years, the All-Andros Crab Festival committee has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to make Crab Fest the most exciting culinary experience in The Bahamas – and arguably the Caribbean – and the plan is to expand it to become the world’s Premier Crab Event.

Wayne Cleare, the committee’s chairman, said: “The event started 21 years ago when Central Andros was looking for an economic boost, and local government partnered with the Ministry of Tourism.

“It began with two to three vendors serving a few crab dishes. Now scores of vendors prepare the crabs in many different ways ranging from crab n’ dough, stuffed crab, crab n’ rice, curried crab, crab souse, crab fitters, crab salad, garlic crab... the list goes on.

Visitors from as far afield as China, Greece, Belgium, the UK and the US are expected to visit central Andros from June 20-22. In thanking Mr D’Aguilar, Mr Cleare said that without the ministry’s commitment to culture and entrepreneurship throughout The Bahamas, festivals such as the Crab Fest would be nothing.

The Ministry of Tourism’s direct involvement has meant that, over the last three years, the All-Andros Crab Festival Committee together with Bahamian corporate partners has donated more than $40,000 in scholarships and Back-to-School supplies to the students of Central Andros.

More than $150,000 has been invested in upgrades to the The Crab Festival site, including a new air-conditioned VIP Lounge as well as a financial centre and ticket booth.