How unfortunate is it that the Caye Caulker Lobsterfest has been cancelled for this year. Our sister island always comes alive for their lobster fest celebrations. Ambergris Today has had great times during a couple of our visits. Official word from the Caye Caulker Lobster Fest Committee is that there will be no annual Caye Caulker Lobster Fest this year as a result of the decline in support from the Caye Caulker business community.
The committee has been having a hard time organizing the event and finally made the decision to cancel. Our only hope that the committee and community get together to resolve the problem and bring back the festival for next year, which is their intention.
Lobster Fest in Caye Caulker had been taking place annually since 1996. Already, residents are expressing their heartbreak of the news as everybody benefits from the annual festivals that bring much business to hotels, restaurants, bars, etc.
“My point of view privately owned or owned by the community, it does not matter! I think that the committee is right in not having the Lobster Festival this year,” commented a Caye Caulker resident on Facebook. “Every year the committee goes around asking for donations from the island businesses but they have a very hard time getting any support! This fest has brought in great financial assistance to all the businesses on the island on the slow season. Everyone profits, from the hotels, restaurants, right down to the stores; but still none wants to support the cause. So now I hope they learn! If we work TOGETHER!!! HAND IN HAND!!!! EVERYONE BENEFITS! Like the saying goes "Hard ears pikni learn d haaad way!
But all hopes of enjoying and taking advantage of the Lobster season is not all lost. The Caye Caulker Cool Seafood Fiesta has been announce to take place on June 24 and 25, 2011! Lobster is sure to be served during the festivities. It promises to be a fun activity for all ages. Caye Caulker residents invite everybody to take the entire family for a weekend of fun, beach, delicious seafood and don't forget to Go Slow! That's the official Caye Caulker motto.
Plus, the Lazy Lizard and San Pedro Belize Express are already promoting their private Lobster Fest at the Caye Caulker Split. This has been scheduled for to take place from July 1 to the 3, 2011. And surely other private businesses will follow suite and have celebrations of their own. One thing for sure is that Lobster is in season and you can enjoy your favorite dish throughout the season when visiting Caye Caulker.
Anonymous (not verified) –
Thanks for sharing this information, Dorian! The power of the media...Ambergris Today has assisted Caye Caulker a great deal when they are having their events to get the word out there.
Cheers,
Liz
Anonymous (not verified) –
I totally agree with what the committee has done. The Caye Caulker Lobster Fest Commttee is one of the few active non-profit organization that are really doing something positive on Caye Caulker. Each and every year they give back 50% or more of the funds raised to a worthy cause.
Without the support of the Caye Caulker Business Community it is very hard for the committe to pull off a fest. The business community are the true beneficiaries of this festival, yet they fail to realize this. It is quite an embarrassment to think how much the Caye Caulker Business Community depends of Lobster Fest yet they aren't willing to cooperate and chip in some thing small for a good cause.
I really hope that they see this and work to make next year's fest bigger and better.
Anonymous (not verified) –
i was so excited about lobster fest i hav missed it for the last 3 yrs and wen i was ready to go bac into the swing i learnt it was cancelled,wat a bomber!
Anonymous (not verified) –
This is really embarrassing for Caye Caulker business owners. Especially after there was a big article in the Yahoo news "Best Secret Islands On Earth" promoting Lobster Fest in Caye Caulker. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40006587. What were these business owners thinking??? Obviously, they weren't. That's the only thing tourists hear about Caye Caulker is the Lobster Fest, and they decided not to do it this year?? Is it out of laziness?? Or greed?? I don't know, but it definitley was not the smartest idea they've ever come up with...very disappointing. I hope they get their act together. At least the Lazy Lizard and San Pedro Belize Express were smart enough to try to continue it.
Anonymous (not verified) –
I would like to point out that it is not the Business owners fault as this is an event done by a private group of individuals. The fault is entire the lack of motivation and self esteem from the New members of this committee. I am more than positive that they have not opened up themselves to all their options as they have not asked my business for anything yet.
In my previous discussions with members they always say they try n then they give up and that's their problem, you should never give up on anything. When you have an event such as this and you realize that you lack the crowd from previous years then I think it is time to think outside the box and come up with more activities to add to the occasion as San Pedro and Placencia Have been doing.
It is ashame that they complain so much yet it took only One Private Individual Business owner to have to put together this entire event and still seem to be doing a much better job at it on a last minute basis. Taking note that the Caye Caulker Lobster Fest is originally comprised of 2 committees.