Written by Shirley Thomas
EVERYTHING is set for hosting of the ‘8th Rockstone Fish Festival 2013’ in Region Ten this weekend. This is an event which promises to be chockfull of fun and frolic, bringing together thousands of lovers of the outdoors and other nature lovers in pursuit of clean and exciting entertainment.Last Friday’s mood at the Tourism Ministry was one of excitement and anticipation as officials of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) and executive members of the Rockstone Tourism Association (RTA) unveiled a packed programme of activities for the festival, which gets under way on Sunday, October 26.

Eminently excited about what lies in store for both Guyanese and visitors was Head of the Tourism Authority of Guyana (TAG), Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, who unveiled a rather colourful and exciting programme of activities for the weekend.

“Thousands will come from all parts of Guyana, as well as overseas visitors and tourists will flock Rockstone for this unique event,” he anticipated.

At the ceremony, held in the boardroom of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry on South Road, Georgetown, Mr. Haralsingh assured that the Tourism Ministry and the GTA would remain supportive of the activity, now heralded as one of the biggest fish festivals in the Caribbean.

The Rockstone Fish Festival forms part of the Tourism Ministry’s Calendar of Events, and is very integral to the development of tourism in Region 10 in general and Rockstone in particular.

The GTA Director, who sees the occasion as the ideal ‘getaway’ or ‘well-warranted unwinding’ after hard work or stressful preoccupation, has urged: “I want to encourage everyone watching or reading this to ensure that you come out to the Rockstone Fish Festival on Sunday, October 27, and overnight camping facilities for Saturday October 26. It’s a good escape,” he said, as he urged persons to gather their friends, family members or neighbours and head out to the Rock Stone Fish Festival.

The Fish Festival would be held on Sunday, October 27, 2013, but on the evening of Saturday, October 26, overnight camping facilities would be set up, and there will be a camp fire as well. For persons wishing to overnight, Venue Manager of the Rockstone Tourism Association, Portex Jonas, has assured that accommodation would be provided. Apart from a guest house at the location, hammocks would be made available at a nominal cost.

Admission to the Festival is $500 for adults and $300 for children. For persons travelling from Georgetown, transportion would be made available from the Linden Bus Park on Hadfield Street at a cost to be indicated.
Patrons with vehicles are assured of safe and adequate parking at affordable fees, which are as follows: motor car $1,000; minibuses and pick-ups $2,000; large buses $3,000; Canters $5,000, and large trucks $10,000.

The Fish Festival
GTA Director Haralsingh has said: “The Rockstone Fish Festival is a unique festival, and we want to ensure that all and sundry support it.” He is urging every available person, particularly if Guyanese, to experience life in the woods — the raw and rustic beauty of remote Region Ten.

Sleep in a hammock, he says; take a cool dip at the riverside, or wade in the running creeks. There will be adequate washroom facilities available; moreover, there is a guest house which can provide bed and breakfast service.

Besides being an ideal fishing destination, Rockstone is the ideal environment for bird watching, camping, hunting, hiking, swimming, picnicking, canoeing and doing river tours. Organizers of the Rockstone Fish Festival also boast of tiny but awe-inspiring Grock Island, which has tremendous tourism potential. There are also rapids, the magnificent Essequibo River, and a nearby creek in which persons can also enjoy fishing. Sand banks can be part of an exciting sight-seeing and picnicking experience.

The reader is admonished to experience the thrill of being at Block Island, which divides the Essequibo River into two. It costs just Gy$3,000 for a boat ride around Block Island and eventually to a destination called ‘Two Mouth’

Noting that the Rockstone Fish Festival is unique, the organizers are urging every person who can read this article to make every effort to avail themselves of a simply unforgettable experience.

Rockstone Fish Festival activities include: Competitions with attractive prizes up for grabs. Paddle boat races; cycle races; a watermelon-eating competition; fish catching and fish de-boning competitions, as well as competitions concerning smoked fish and roasted fish.

There are activities for every age group. There will be the model fish competition for children, in which they will be asked to design a fish out of dough. They will choose and design their own fish for entry to the competition.

Bird watching is also a major activity at Rockstone, and nature lovers will be delighted to view the range of more than 140 birds of brilliant plumage.

Events/Competitions
President of the newly constituted Rockstone Tourism Association, Ms. Lynette Benn, said that in addition to the traditional activities, there will this year be a few ‘hot’ events, such as the ‘Winner Takers’ with only one prize in each category for the Largest Arawana; the Largest Lukunani, and the Largest Tipikuri caught by fishers.

There will also be the cooking competition in which the ‘Winner Taker’ system would apply. Prizes would be on offer in the Cooking Competition for the Best Smoked Fish’ and the Best Roasted Fish on that day.

There will also be an amazing variety of fish to be caught and eaten in the competition. Among them are the arawana, lukunani, tipakuri, basha. These all make for tasty dishes and delightful cuisine.

Overview
The only Fish Festival in Guyana, the Rockstone Fish Festival is a unique event in an indigenous community. It opens a window on, or brings to the fore, the culture of the people of the community, while inviting and embracing the cooperation and collaboration of Guyanese and tourists alike. The event, which began eight years ago, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism; the Guyana Tourism Authority; the Region Ten Tourism Development Association and the Rockstone Tourism Association. Rockstone is about two hours’ drive from the capital city of Georgetown.

Over the years, between 3,000 and 5,000 persons have attended this event; and with each passing year, activities are getting bigger and better.