Yolande Gyles, Freelance Writer
The Hartford Cultural group performs at the Little Ochi Seafood Festival, held last Saturday in Alligator Pond, Manchester. - PHOTO BY YOLANDE GYLES
SEVERAL HUNDRED persons from all over the island journeyed to Alligator Pond, Manchester on Sunday in search of one thing - fish!
The venue was Little Ochi, and the event was their annual seafood carnival, where the main attraction was the little critters from the sea - roasted, fried and steamed. And, for those whose fish, lobster, crab and shrimp were not enough, there was music - both in its live and recorded form, bounce-a-bouts, the beach and tons of give-a-ways.
For seafood lovers, the carnival was more like bacchanal.
One such reveller, Michael Smith from Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth told The Gleaner that nothing, not even Hurricane Dennis, could have kept him away. "Me come here at least once a week and from dem tell me sey di carnival was still going to keep, me done decide sey me haffi come," said Smith.
FAVOURITE PLACE
He said that Little Ochi was his favourite place in Jamaica and while he came for "the fish and crabs" he would stay for the entertainment. And, one of the juggernauts in the day-long entertainment package was Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires.
Jamaica's premier soca band was at their finest, reeling off soca classics like Kitty Cat, Blame it on di Music and Togetherness. They then performed their classic song Tiney Winey, whose lead vocals were performed just as is on record by their former front man, Marvin Brooks - for a moment, it almost looked like the Dragonnaires of old, all that seemed missing was Byron Lee himself. But, it was not all about soca music, as current lead vocalist Oscar B did a little Vybz Kartel and even found some Elephant Man.
Not to be outdone were the patrons who, like obedient students, performed every move they were told to by the band. From wining to jumping to waving of flags, they did them all. This was in keeping with the day's trend, as every time MC Richie B announced a new competition or quiz for give-a-ways, he certainly had no trouble getting participants. From the 'Willie Bounce' Male and Female Dancing competition to the Healthy Body Female competition, there were people clamouring to take part. Even the JB Rum competition, where he asked for the first person who could bring a cup, which smelled like rum on stage, had more than its fair share of persons.
'EATING COMPETITION'
While there were those who took part in competitions on stage, others seemed more interested in competitions on their plates. One little boy and his father were busy trying to see who could eat the most crab, while another boy merrily tackled a fish which was twice the size of his head.
But, not all could be satisfied, as two men complained to The Gleaner that they were not having as much fun as they planned to have. "Di woman dem have on too much clothes; how dem fi come a beach and nuh have on nuh bathing suit," said one young man who gave his name as 'Two Face'. His friend, 'Lion', also complained bitterly that the sea was too rough and choppy for swimming and that the sun was not bright enough. He added: "And me did want more woman down yah, wha dem mek me drink Zion Roots fah?"
Unfortunately for them, none of those things could be controlled by Little Ochi.
