Simpson Bay fish market
officially opened by Sarah
SIMPSON BAY--The sound of a conch shell filled the afternoon air as Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams officially opened the long-awaited new Simpson Bay Fish Market on Wednesday.
Thanking everyone who had contributed to the project from its very difficult planning phase to the completed NAf. 2.2 million complex, the commissioner said the fish market finally could be dedicated to the fishermen and people of Simpson Bay who kept the fishing tradition alive.
Before cutting the ribbon to declare the fish market open, Wescot-Williams unveiled a statue of a fisherman with his catch of the day, a large fish. The plaque in front of the statue is inscribed with a dedication to the island’s fishermen, especially those of Simpson Bay.
The new fish market provides fishermen with a proper place to display and sell their catch and stalls for fresh produce. The market will be open for business as of this morning. Fresh fish should be available from 6:30am.
Wescot-Williams, the driving force behind the building of the new fish market, said she had become involved with the project after visiting the market in the past and observing the state of the old building. A new fish market has long been needed to help keep the traditional activity of the fishing village alive, she added.
Recalling the olden days, she said walking through Simpson Bay on certain days the air had been filled with fresh fish frying. Six small restaurants in the marketplace will recreate the smells of the fishing village with menus offering the catch of the day and a host of local dishes.
To revive fishing on the island, Wescot-Williams said the Development Bank of the Netherlands Antilles OBNA was willing to work with the Fishermen’s Association to organise the group into a cooperative unit. This structure will help the fishermen access funds and further develop their fleets and operations.
Local artisans and crafters will also be able to display their creations at the market on small tables, the commissioner explained.
Association representative/fisherman Ben Vlaun told the gathering, which included Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and Commissioners Theo Heyliger and Roy Marlin, the fishermen were happy with and proud of the new fish market. He thanked government and Wescot-Williams for never giving up on the project.
He issued a plea from the fishermen to the community, especially those who tamper with fish pots placed underwater, to cease this at once and “leave the fishermen in peace” to make their living. Wescot-Williams supported the fishermen’s plea.
Head of New Projects Development and Planning Kurt Ruan, who has been the point person for the fish market, said the project had taken a lot of endurance because of planning hurdles that had needed to be crossed for it to be accomplished.
The renovation of the old fish market had been on the books since 1987, with plans to build a completely new building taking shape in the late 1990s.
The new fish market mirrors Fish Alley, which has long since disappeared from Philipsburg, according to Ruan. Fish Alley was the ideal place of buy fresh fish or a meal from the catch of the day, and a place to socialise. The new market also has these elements, with a bar on the lagoon front and benches throughout the complex for visitors to rest.
Ruan commended contractor Windward Roads Infrastructure N.V. for taking on the challenge of constructing a building, a departure from its usual infrastructure projects, and for maintaining a price offered in 2003 when the project finally started in February 2006.
Jan Hendrik Boekaar of Windward Roads said the company supported continuation and had taken up the challenge with other projects such as the replacing of the L.B. Scott Sport Auditorium roof.
The fishermen and produce sellers were accommodated in temporary market a short distance from the new fish market complex for the past year.
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