— as Rockstone Fish Festival promises to be grand affair

FISHES that dwell in the Essequibo River will be scampering because of the increased presence of hooks and castnets at this year’s Rockstone Fish Festival, which is expected to attract about 3,000 people.
Last year, though the turnout was smaller, the festival was faced with many constraints said the coordinator, Amatsyah Joseph, during the launch of the event at the Ministry of Business on Friday.

The tourism-driven event takes place at the small riverine community of Rockstone, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
Joseph promised that come October 28 and 29, they intend to avoid those constraints and ensure that all aspects of the event are done in a timely manner.
Though there will be better monitoring and managing of the festival, persons will still enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and a number of new attractions such as bike and road racing, fishing, volleyball, tug-o-war, karaoke, bon fire and fold singing, canoe racing, swimming, cassava grating and rafting.
In addition, there will the usual activities such as boat tours to beautiful destinations, fishing and cooking competitions, cycling races from Linden to Rockstone, nature trails, fish-deboning, fish-catching, and the largest-fish competitions.
Added to that, there will be camping, picnics, tours to Gluck Island, swimming and fish-cooking contests.

The community of Rockstone, some 18 miles from Linden, is renowned for hosting Guyana’s largest fish festival – the Rockstone Fish Festival – an attraction for both tourists and locals alike.
A two-hour trip will allow persons to experience camping, fishing, bird-watching, or simply exploring the Essequibo.
Tickets cost $500 for adults and $300 for children. For those who want to park there, the fees are $1,000 for cars; $2,000 for mini-buses; $3,000 for pick-ups; $3,000 for canter trucks; $3,000 for large buses; and $5,000 for large trucks.
Since the commencement of the festival 12 years ago, the Guyana Tourism Authority and the government have been using it to drive tourism in Region 10 by attracting patrons and fishers from all across the country.

The festival was birthed by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director-General Donald Sinclair in 2006 when he was on a fishing excursion.
According to the GTA, he envisaged the potential for community-based tourism, which prompted him to engage residents of the community. They later created the blueprint for the festival.