St. George’s, July 29, 2010 (GIS) – Grenada may soon introduce a national award to honour its writers. The announcement was made July 28 by Senator Arley Gill, Minister of State with Responsibility for Information, Information and Communication Technology, and Culture.
He was speaking at the Esplanade Mall on Bruce Street at the media launch of the Department of Culture’s inaugural Spice Word Festival and Book Fair, and the Camahogne Folk Festival.
Senator Gill wants “tangible recognition’’ given to Grenadian writers, some of whom are well-known published authors living in North America and Europe.
The Spice Word literary festival – which would involve a book fair of the works of Grenadian authors, poetry and an art exhibition – will be held October 20 to 24 – at various venues, including St. Mark, Bathway in St. Patrick and the National Stadium in St. George’s.
The featured Grenadian writers will be Clyde Belfon, David Franklyn and Merle Collins. However, Sen. Gill said the Word Festival and Book Fair are open to “all Grenadian writers’’ of every genre.
The Wednesday afternoon media launch, which included a brief performance from some members of the Grenada delegation to the recent Shanghai Expo in China, was witnessed by scores of shoppers and attended by prominent Grenadians, including Mr. Belfon and Ms. Collins, who read excerpts from their works.
Among others in attendance were Education and Human Resource Development Minister Franka Alexis-Bernardine; Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Glynis Roberts; Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Arlene Outram; retired senior public servant, Gloria Payne-Banfield; and Beverly Steele, author and former Resident Tutor University of the West Indies Centre at Marryshow House.
Government, Sen. Bernardine said, is dedicated to promoting local writers. As a clear demonstration of its commitment, the Ministry of Education is setting up a section in every school where books by Grenadian authors will be displayed and made accessible for student readership commencing at the end of October, she announced.
The Camerhogne Folk Festival – from December 3 to 5 – will involve elements such as drama, dance, song, craft and the Shakespeare Mas’ of Carriacou.Sen. Gill said the overall objective of the October and December events – the first of their kind in Grenada – is to highlight and preserve the literary and oral traditions of the nation.
The Camerhogne Festival will honour well-known Grenadian folklorist, Thelma Phillip, popularly known as “Auntie Tek.’’ She’ll be recognised as the “Caribbean Golden Lady of Storytelling,’’ said Sen. Gill.
Two special guests – Jamaican poet Mutabaruka and Trinidad Rapso artiste, Brother Resistance – have been invited to the festival of words and book fair in October.
Sen. Gill said plans are to take the festivals “to the people’’ of Grenada, and also to “aggressively’’ market them overseas.
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