Agriculture show blooms on the Brac

Six year-old Aija Ebanks visits the Sister Islands
Agricultural Show and takes her pet bunny

by  Nick Watson

Friday,  February 11, 2005

Agriculture Minister Gilbert McLean announced at the Sister Islands Agriculture Show (SIAS) last Saturday, 5 February that a monthly Agriculture or Craft Market Day would begin on Cayman Brac at the end of this month.

The Minister made the announcement at the official opening of the third annual SIAS amid a large crowd enjoying displays of agriculture, craft, memorabilia, stalls and plenty of traditional Caymanian food, as well as cotton candy and hotdogs for the children.

Over 1,000 people from all three islands, as well as a number of tourists, took the opportunity to join in the festivities at the Agriculture Department Compound in Spot Bay, at the base of Cayman Brac’s beautiful Bluff. 
The Island’s crop and livestock farmers delivered impressive displays of traditional farming, while Jude and Laura Walton demonstrated aquaponics and aquaculture from the first commercial hydroponics and fish farm on the Sister Islands.

Addressing a very large turnout at the third annual SIAS, the Minister said he had directed the Agriculture Events Committee to establish a monthly Market Day at the end of every month, starting 26 February.

Mr McLean added, “These grounds will provide a suitable venue to host this event. The value of such a monthly event should not be underestimated: this will provide an opportunity for farmers to sell their produce, and other vendors to sell food items and handicrafts. I believe the Brac Community should seize this opportunity.”

Chief Agricultural and Veterinary Officer, Dr Alfred Benjamin, told residents of the Sister Islands, “You should be proud of the manner in which this show has grown and improved after only three short years of existence.” 

He said that the committee is forced to put limits on the number of displays because of lack of room in the grounds.

“The growth of this show is a manifestation of pent-up energies and talents that must have been waiting to be released over the years.”

According to Agriculture Events Committee Chairman, Mark Tibbetts, numbers attending the show have grown each year from approximately 600 in 2003. The SIAS is particularly proud that the Show is now virtually self-financing, with profits each year supporting the next annual show.

Exhibitors from Cayman Brac were asked to provide items, particularly produce, for the Show in Grand Cayman this year, since Hurricane Ivan had destroyed many of the crops on that Island. 

“These individuals have agreed to do so and they are all extremely happy that they could be of some assistance for the Show in Grand Cayman,” said Mr. Tibbetts.

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