Tasty fish connection

Margaret Cox, the first fish vendor to start frying fish in Oistins, in her Margaret’s Fish Shack grilling dolphin. (Sharon Harding)

By Anesta Henry | Wed, February 08, 2012 - 12:03 AM

FOR MARGARET COX, her life as a fried fish vendor started one Friday night 26 years ago when she “bring out two drums, two frying pans, two coalpots and some seasoned dolphin, marlin, flying fish and other fish” which she placed beside Whitemans Shop in Oistins.

The blazing flames from the coalpots created a sizzling sound as fish fried in hot oil. Minutes later, when three tourists could not stop “telling me how good the fish taste, I know my time selling fish in Oistins has just started”.

Cox said she was the first person to fry fish and sell to visitors in Oistins and the first person to get the entertainment and nightlife in that fishing village rolling.

And today, at 62, she is proud to see the flames lighting up her Margaret’s Fish Shack, in which she has on display her Achievement of Excellence Award Tourism Micro-Enterprises which she received at the 2009 Barbados Tourism Awards.

“When I started in 1986, on the first Friday night I started selling fish in Oistins, I met about two or three tourists that increased to nearly a 100. I usd to fry fish, chicken and pork chops.

“I used to invite the [Barbados Landship] to entertain the tourists. It was right at the side of the road and people used to be passing and seeing the tourists eating and dancing and enjoying themselves. Then, locals started passing through to enjoy themselves,” the WEDNESDAY WOMAN recalled.

But the daughter of the well known fish-seller, the late Berinda Cox, “like to always tell people” that her days of dealing with fish started in her mother’s fish stall.

“I was about 14 years old going to school, and from school, I use to help my mother clean and bone flying fish [and] clean other fish. I used to help her wash down when she was finished on evenings.”

According to Cox, every night is not selling night. But on the hot nights “like Friday and Saturday nights” one can find grilled or fried dolphin, marlin, tuna, swordfish, flying fish and reds snappers among others.

Cox said she was not boasting, “but my fish does smell and taste very good!”.

“I enjoy doing what I do because I love people and people love me and my food. You should love your work and do it properly.

It don’t be easy working in the shop but I programme myself to make it easy,” said the former School Meals cook of many years.

But the outspoken mother of three, said that while she would always be “a happy fish vendor”, she has some issues with the infrastructure of the fishing village which was built by Government.

“I don’t like how them build all of these stalls together, close to each other. No stall should be in front of another stall. The back should be able to see the front and the front should able to see the back. The people who progressing is the people who up to the front. My stall at the back. I would like out here lick down and put it in the right way like a horseshoe so that everybody would see one another.”

Pushing that issue aside, Cox said that she was not only famous in Oistins for her fish.

When things slowed down at her fish shop at nights, the former bodybuilder washes her hands and face, puts on her heels and heads over to Lexies Bar, also in the village, to entertain the young and old as she does her ballroom steps to oldie goldies.

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Posted by Kenneth King 3 months, 2 weeks ago: Congratulations to all those involved in making the Oistins night life on weekends a popular thing in spite of the little changes that Cox has mentioned. It was my first ever visit since I left Barbados 21 yrs ago, I remember the Oistins fish festival which was also a very popular event in its day. However to improve on this venture I’ve noticed a stage where many young men and women also a few tourist at times join in a little gyrating to music which is no problem, my suggestion is why not maybe once a month some other cultural aspect having live bands and dancers performing giving the full talent we have, a chance to develop in their art. My next observation also were the many different kinds of music coming from every corner of the stalls, I think either one system of music with a delay on a few speakers to avoid the confusion when one sits and enjoying a drink or food. I am not putting anyone down as I myself am an entertainer but sometimes it was difficult to converse or enjoy my meal with music coming from all angles making it difficult to fully enjoy the atmosphere.
Next point is a few special lights on the sea cost with a yellow beam giving a real romantic look to the area as many sit or walk along the beach as I have notice and also can be better protection for the many who visit the event. A pity the area is so small and many more opportunities for others are not possible but the idea is excellent and I hope we keep it safe and clean for many years to come and that it be a trade mark for many visitors to see and taste the real local foods they have to offer…I am a proud Barbadian…..my last wish, we blame the radio stations for not playing local music; therefore my appeal also to the many DJ’s out there, that means you too.