by TRACY MOORE

THE PARTYING at the $11 million redeveloped Oistins Bay Garden And Fish Fry may go on all night.

Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch hinted at this when he spoke at the reopening of the facility on Wednesday.

"It is our desire that activity go on here around the clock, broaden the base of economic activity, thus going a long way to ensuring the future viability of this venture," he said.

He said Government was already committed to providing the technical assistance, while the Barbados Tourism Authority was mandated to include the location into its advertising and promotion of the facility in its marketing planning.

The minister said the project "linked tourism and agriculture, expanded the base of ownership of tourism, created new institutional capacity, stepped up our marketing, both locally and overseas, adding more marketing muscle to the mix and expanded the product base of tourism offerings, while creating huge employment opportunities from concept stage through to functional commercial activity".

No stone unturned

He said Government would leave "no stone unturned" to ensure the Oistins Bay Garden And Fish Fry was managed "in a manner that ensures the provision of a clean, safe and financial secure environment".

Additionally, he suggested to those servicing the facility at all levels to take charge of aspects of the marketing
of the facility, "through a designated committee chosen from within your ranks to work with the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Barbados Port Inc. to prepare an ongoing plan of marketing to position the products and services offered here".

The project, he said, which Government took over in September 2006, had come to "symbolise a major aspect of the building of the new Barbadian economy that is taking former assets from a sector that fomented much of our growth and development in a past era and converting them into even more expansive and productive contributors to the economy in another sphere".

The upgrades include additional physical space for increased activity during day-time hours and for use seven days a week, provisions of a band stand, vendor kiosks and expanded walkways.

MP for Christ Church South Jerome Walcott said the upgrade "has allowed a number of small business people within the constituency to develop businesses and employ people.

"There were certain concerns in terms of the conditions and this enhances the entire area . . . . With these new facilities it will allow and increase numbers of people to come and be part of what is happening here," he said.

Vendors will not likely move into the facility until next year.