Members of the public will have a better understanding of the blue economy and the agencies involved in the industry when the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy hosts the inaugural Blue Fest 2019 from Monday, November 4, to Sunday, November 10.
Under the theme Introducing the Blue Economy, the activities will kick off with tours by primary schools on Tuesday, November 5, with the Bay Primary School touring the Barbados Coast Guard (BCG) HMBS Pelican Base; the St. Bartholomew Primary, the Berinda Cox Fish Market and the St. Mary’s Primary School visiting the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex. Each tour will begin at 10:00 a.m.
On Thursday, November 7, the United Nations Development Programme will launch its Blue Lab at the Copacabana Beach Club, Bay Street, St. Michael, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
This will be followed by the St. Ambrose Primary School visiting the Barbados Port Inc. for a tour on Friday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m.
On Saturday, November 9, the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), one of the departments under the Ministry, will host a hike from the Police Boys and Girls Club on Bay Street, St. Michael to Rascals Barbados (the old Weisers Beach Bar) at Brandons, St. Michael, from 3:00 p.m.
The hike will seek to highlight blue economy initiatives for Bridgetown and Carlisle Bay.
Hikers are asked to assemble at Rascals Barbados where they will be transported by bus to Bay Street, St. Michael. Buses will leave by 2:45 p.m.
Persons travelling on buses may collect tickets for a nominal fee from the CZMU offices at Warrens Tower II, Warrens, St. Michael, from tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5, until Friday, November 8, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The activities for the week will climax on Sunday, November 10, with a heritage bus tour, which will begin and end at the Oistins Bay Gardens, Oistins, Christ Church.
The tour will leave Oistins at 10:00 a.m. with stops at the East Point Light House in St. Philip; Consett Bay and Bath, in St. John, and Harrison’s Point, St. Lucy. Persons are encouraged to bring their own lunch.
The buses are expected to return to Oistins by 4:00 p.m. Persons going on the tour are asked to meet in Oistins by 9:45 a.m. on the day.
Tickets are available from the CZMU office and the Fisheries Division on Princess Alice Highway, from Tuesday, November 5, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. There are two tickets per person.