Sun | May 3, 2026

'Crab inna barrel' with a smile

Published:Wednesday | June 2, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Montego Bay-based chef Phillip Gooden prepares sumptuous garlic crab at Busha's Annual Crab Festival, held at Paradise Park, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last Saturday. The event was sponsored by Appleton Jamaica Rum and Wisynco Distributors.
The staff which served guests at Busha's Annual Crab Festival, held at Paradise Park, Savanna-la-Mar, West-moreland, last Saturday. The event was sponsored by Appleton Jamaica Rum and Wisynco Distributors. From left are Michelle Eunis, Janet Parkinson, Jasmine Graham and Damion Wisdom. - Photos by Noel Thompson
Heather and Samuel Williams, business operators from Kingston, seem at a loss for choice at Busha's Annual Crab Festival, held at Paradise Park, Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, last Saturday. The event was sponsored by Appleton Jamaica Rum and Wisynco Distributors.
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Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

They came from near and far. In fact, as far away as St Thomas to attend Busha's Annual Crab Party.

The event takes place religiously every last Saturday in May on the lawns of Paradise Park in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

Traditionally, the month of May comes with much rain and some years it pours, but this never deters the scores of loyal patrons from attending.

Last Saturday, the rains never came and literally thousands of persons turned up at Paradise Park simply to eat all the crab they could.

Boiled, curried, garlic and crab in beans, were all in the mix. Liquor wasn't short either and residents downed all they could.

But more important than the crab and the liquor, was having a great time and more than 2,000 people did just that.

Sound Illusion from Negril provided great entertainment.

Beautiful scenery

Paradise Park sits directly at the edge of the sea, the lagoons hang over the ocean, forming beautiful scenery, particularly at nights.

Bryan Ho-Sue and cousin Phillip Gooden were the head chefs, assisted by a team of six others and four servers. They prepared mouthwatering crab dishes such as crab in run down; crab in beans; garlic crab; boiled crab; ribs; roasted fish and conch soup.

Admittedly, it was my first time attending a crab party and I was truly amazed that there were so many crab lovers around and dedicated enough to travel more than 100 miles to share in the celebrations.

Savanna-la-Mar-based businessman Eric 'Busha' Clarke is the founder and organiser.

He is past president of the Rotary Club of Savanna-la-Mar, and part proceeds from last Saturday's staging will go towards Rotary projects.

"Crab party has been a tradition in the Clarke family for decades. My party started out with between 20 and 30 friends attending, and it expanded as more people started hearing about it. Serious crab lovers started getting upset that they were not invited and so it keeps growing," Clarke told The Gleaner.

It was at that stage that a cover charge was introduced. This year, it was $4,000, and patrons ate and drank all they could. Appleton Jamaica Rum, Wisynco Distributors and Jamaica Broilers were among the sponsors.

Being mindful that there were some patrons attending who do not eat crab, Clarke said he decided to do things a little differently this year, and so he added roast fish and spare ribs to the menu.

Hoteliers in Negril are also benefiting from the party, as travellers book their accommodation in advance.

Clarke said he had discovered that the last Saturday in May was the appropriate time for the party, as there was always an abundance of crabs. More than 300 dozen crabs were prepared for last week's party.