Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
Visitors at on Hellshire Beach, St. Catherine.
ORGANISERS OF the upcoming Seprod-Hellshire Fishermen Regatta and Seafood Festival 2005, say that the Hellshire Beach at Half Moon Bay in St. Catherine has been a liability to the tourist industry for many years and they hope to raise funds to develop the facility.
"The festival is planned to initiate construction and re-development of the infrastructure to make Hellshire beach a tourist Mecca in St. Catherine," said Donette Prendergast, a spokesperson for the organisers of the event. She explained that the beach is in need of an administrative office and meeting area to rectify the existing challenges of over-pricing , illegal vending and entry by undesirables who roam the beach.
SOIL EROSION
Referring to the existing soil erosion problem, Mrs. Prender-gast said that about 150 ft of the shoreline have been lost over a five-year period and much more since the passage of hurricane Ivan. According to her, the rock design out in the water (the reef) that would cut the strength of the waves, protecting the shoreline from being washed away, has been rapidly eroding since hurricane Ivan.
Marcia Kitson-Walters, sales and marketing manager of Seprod Limited, title sponsor of the regatta and festival said "a synergy between Seprod and Hellshire must be profitable as Seprod manufactures oil and gold-seal margarine which is best for steaming fish, and Hellshire provides the fish." She added that the re-development of the beach has been pending for too long.
The festival will take place on August 28 at the Hellshire Beach in St. Catherine, and will commence at 9:00 a.m. with a family affair featuring fish eating contests, boat races and kiddie's rides. The festival will then climax with a stage show featuring acts such as Gyptian, Warrior King and dance choreographer, John Hype.
