"A PLACE CALLED GOUYAVE"

You Are Cordially Invited To The

BOOK LAUNCH OF "A PLACE CALLED GOUYAVE" BY TONY DECOTEAU MEET & GREET TONY DECOTEAU AND COLLECT YOUR AUTOGRAPH COPY SUNDAY, MAY 20, 5:30 PM, BROOKLYN, NY WHEN:            Sunday, May 20, 2012 @ 5:30pm WHERE            1 Grand Army Plaza           (New glass building tower; opposite Brooklyn Public Library on Eastern Parkway) Literary lovers, you don't have to be from  Gouyave, Grenada, to enjoy this book. http://outskirtspress.com/aplacedcalledgouyave     Around October or November, Anthony DeCoteau, known by his Grenada Boys Secondary School (GBSS) friends and hostel mates as "Cortex," downloaded me the manuscript of A Place Called Gouyave. I planned to watch the New York Giants that evening but instead found myself reading and enjoying DeCoteau's book. Early next morning I finished and called DeCoteau to congratulate him and to discuss some of the episodes. For example, he discussed Hurricane Janet. The morning of September 22, 1955, Headmaster Eli Peters closed the Anglican School and I suspect schools around Grenada were ordered to do the same thing. Since most adults in Gouyave did not believe a hurricane was approaching little boys, including me, went to bathe in the sea until early afternoon when the sea was becoming real rough and some responsible adults commanded us to leave. Yet, A Place Called Gouyave is more than a chronicle about growing up in this small and historic town in Grenada. Most Caribbean persons regardless to island of birth or where raised would enjoy and appreciate DeCoteau's book.  What someone recently wrote about the book is so true, "At the end don't be surprised if your mind reverts to your own hometown and smile at the things you used to love. But as one reviewer noted, A PLACE CALLED GOUYAVE leaves room 'for a learning moment among the more sophisticated readers who seek to understand the fundamentals of the Caribbean people in general.'  In other words A PLACE CALLED GOUYAVE is a book that will surely bring back a flood of memories about your own hometown."  You are not in NY! No problem because you can order A Place Called Gouyave, see the author and get more info by clicking http://outskirtspress.com/aplacedcalledgouyave

Sharing a love of books

by Brenda Webb

The Marlborough Express

It’s Saturday morning on the lush Caribbean island of Grenada and there's a steady stream of children heading for a hurricane-proof hall in the tranquil mountain village of Mt Airy.

Elsewhere around the world similar aged children are probably meeting at malls, planning trips to the movies or thinking about McDonald's (there isn't one on Grenada, thank goodness).

This bright and eager faced lot of 5- to 16-year-olds are gathering, completely of their own accord and in their precious weekend time, to improve their literacy skills at the Mt Airy Young Readers' Programme.

They come clutching tattered and dog-eared books – eager to read them under the eyes of a voluntary group of cruising sailors with varied backgrounds.

There's definitely a teacher or two in our bunch (they're the organised ones) and a handful like us, full of enthusiasm with limited skills and resources but delighted to put something back into the local community.

We often feel sad that many of the children we see in our travels don't have the educational opportunities our own children had, which in New Zealand we take for granted. So we're happy to give up a Saturday morning in the hope of improving these young Grenadians' future.

The literacy rate on the island is 96 per cent, which sounds high, but a truer picture is probably gained by the fact that the average school leaving age here (including university) is 15 for males and 16 for females. In New Zealand the ages are 19 and 20 respectively.

There is a highly regarded university on the island – The University of St George's – but most of its students are from the United States and the United Kingdom.

For some students living in small and remote villages on Grenada, educational opportunities may be limited and this was recognised by programme founders Jeanne and Everest Chantal, who noticed children slipping between the cracks. The crunch came one day when Everest realised their cleaner couldn't read or write.

"We noticed because after dusting she would put books upside down," he says.

Determined to help, Everest began tutoring the woman and was delighted at her progress.

The project spurred him on and he began tutoring other interested locals in his home. Word got out and today up to 40 children walk, run, bike, or bus to the hall where classes are now held.

Cruising sailors visiting the island heard about the programme and now, every week, a busload of volunteers heads for the hills to spend four hours helping out.

As 10am approaches the solid concrete hall is unlocked, shutters opened and desks and chairs set out. Children are put into groups according to their age and ability and allocated to volunteers.

Resources are limited so luckily we've come armed with our trusty Atlas and a couple of books on New Zealand. The first surprise I have is what competent readers both my 11-year-old students are.

They have no trouble pronouncing New Zealand names and ask intelligent questions – "don't the sheep get cold once the wool is taken off?"

"How long will it take you to sail there?"

They've never seen herds of dairy cows, flocks of sheep, irrigation machines (it rains most days here) or snow and eagerly pump me for more information.

My young girl is astonished to see a photo of a helicopter mustering cattle on a high-country station – the only helicopter she's ever seen is one that brings the rich and famous to exclusive resorts in south Grenada.

David's 10-year-old boys are less skilled but equally eager to learn. They produce Dr Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham to read, which we feel is a bit below their age group, but they're interested in New Zealand and pore over the photographs in the book. A game of Scrabble keeps them focussed and tests David's knowledge of Rastafarian lingo. The session moves on to mass times tables and ends with a spelling bee in which all children get a chance to stand and spell a word.

Then there is a half-hour free time when drinks and sandwiches are handed out and the children mix with the cruisers.

"A lot of it is simply about learning how to interact with people from different cultures," a regular volunteer says. "Some of these children don't move very far from home so for them to come and mingle with cruisers from all around the world, hold conversations with them and read to them is a huge step for their confidence levels."

The day before we'd taken a trip around Grenada and were surprised at the apparent poverty. The popular anchorages in the south are surrounded by fabulous multimillion-dollar, fully staffed homes with views to die for but travel inland and many houses are tiny, ramshackle and crowded.

Unemployment runs at 12.5 per cent with most jobs in agriculture or tourism.

We'd have loved to have become regular volunteers at the programme but time is moving on and we need to get some more ocean miles under our belt before hurricane season arrives in the Caribbean. We're heading west towards more poor countries so hope there are more opportunities to help.

PHOTO: EAGER READERS: Ronal and Kevin pour over a photographic book of New Zealand with David Morgan at the Saturday morning Mt Airy Young Readers’ Programme. (Brenda Webb)

Grenadian author writes thriller on global warming

OHIO, March 3, 2012 - A Grenadian author has been receiving good reviews on his latest book.

Tobias Buckell has written a thriller called Arctic Rising. Set in a period after global warming has opened the polar region to smugglers, drug traffickers and other illegal pursuits, the book is a fast paced thriller, according to initial reviews.

Global warming has transformed the Earth, and it’s about to get even hotter. The Arctic Ice Cap has all but melted, and the international community is racing desperately to claim the massive amounts of oil beneath the newly accessible ocean.

Enter the Gaia Corporation. Its two founders have come up with a plan to roll back global warming. They plan to terraform Earth to save it from itself—but in doing so; they have created a super weapon the likes of which the world has never seen.

Anika Duncan is an airship pilot for the underfunded United Nations Polar Guard. She’s intent on capturing a smuggled nuclear weapon that has made it into the Polar Circle and bringing the smugglers to justice.

Anika finds herself caught up in a plot by a cabal of military agencies and corporations who want Gaia Corporation stopped. But when Gaia Corp loses control of their super weapon, it will be Anika who has to decide the future of the world.

Arctic Rising is available from many popular bookstores including Barnes and Noble (including Nook) and Amazon.

Buckell, a New York Times Bestselling author, has had his work translated into 15 different languages. He has published some 50 short stories in various magazines and anthologies, and has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, Prometheus, and Campbell awards.

Buckell was born in the Caribbean. On his mother’s side he is the third generation of a family that started living aboard boats when his grandfather sailed off down the river Thames in a sailboat with his family aboard to explore the Mediterranean. His biological father’s side of the family hails from Grenada.

“As a child I lived aboard boats while growing up in Grenada, then on boats with various family in the British Virgin Islands, and again in the US Virgin Islands where my family introduced my stepdad to the life,” he said his biography.

“I moved to Ohio in 1995 for my senior year of high school after a series of hurricanes destroyed the boat we lived on. My stepdad, who grew up in Ohio, moved us up to be with family. After scraping by and barely graduating, I attended a small liberal arts college in the small town of Bluffton, Ohio, and somehow never quite managed to escape the small town.”

“I was a voracious reader, and high school started spinning stories out due to my inability to pay attention in class. My sophomore year I began completing stories and submitting them to magazines,” he said.

“Somewhat unimaginatively, I did go to college and get an English degree. More because I was trying to buy time and continue working on my writing. It worked: I started selling short stories my junior year of college while spending as much time skipping class I could without failing out. I attended the well known science fiction and fantasy workshop Clarion during this time as well.”

Since 2006 he has been a full time author and freelancer and splits his time between working behind the scenes for various blogs as an editor, copy editor, and writer, and also writing novels and short stories.

Reminiscing on a boarding school life in Grenada

Book Description:

This book is about memories of a boarding school life, and is also a tribute to the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) Hostel as a great educational institution in a then emerging country. Academic disciplines were taught at the GBSS.

The Hostel supplemented academics with lessons on personal interactions and relationships, and on social living in general. The keys to life in the Hostel were discipline and camaraderie - in study; in play; and in other aspects of social life.

Hostel Boys were more confined than boys living outside, but such confinement was without a baggage of written rules, and life therein provided several opportunities for individual personal development.

In the words of one Hostel Boy: "So many of us came to the Hostel as brash, crude, 'ignorant', unhewn base metals, and left as polished gems." Though the book does not specifically deal with the issue, it challenges the reader to ponder the issue of channeling the always roving human spirit in positive directions at a young age.

Dr. Winston Phillips

The GBSS Hostel (1946 -1973) was located between the GBSS and the Spout, in three buildings – the Top Dormitory; the Middle Building and the Bottom Dormitory. Physically, the Hostel enjoyed a panoramic view from Morne Jaloux through Springs to the Carenage at the Library.

The site is now occupied by the T.A. Marryshow Community College. The residents of the Hostel were boys, ages ranging from 11 to 18 years, mostly from the rural parishes and from Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The Hostel was run by a Hostel Master and Matron, assisted by Prefects, usually senior boys.

In this book –“The Grenada Boys’ Secondary School Hostel - Reminiscing on a boarding school life in Grenada”, Dr. Winston Phillips, a Hostel Boy from 1953-1960 looks back at life in the Hostel.

Hostel Boys have distinguished themselves in many phases of professional life in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Among its many distinguished residents were Sir Paul Scoon, Dr. Stan Friday, Osbert Benjamin (Permanent Secretary) and former Commissioner of Police, Nestor Ogilvie.

About the book, the author states: “My main reason for writing about the Hostel was because the Hostel meant a lot to me and my personal development. And it also has meant a lot to other Hostel Boys since, whenever we meet. we talk on and on about our experiences in the Hostel – about Meals, the GBSS Headmaster (K.I.M. Smith), Hostel Masters, boys’ escapades, relationships between senior and junior boys, times of relaxation and of serious study, church-going, illnesses and going to dances, discipline, responsibility, emulation, competitiveness, friendship , punishments, and privileges.

In addition, I wrote the book to pay tribute to the institution and its inner workings which impacted on our young lives. I have with this book accomplished what I wanted to do – to say THANKS! 

But the GBSS Hostel is also part of Grenada’s history. History in its right use is always meant to be shared so that those today may have points of reference in the past.”

The book reminisces on the personal growth of young boys in a framework of freedom within physical boundaries and other limitations, combined with responsibilities in a daily regimen that resulted in the cultivation of ‘young men of character’. Hostel Boys think they had two avenues for learning: the GBSS provided mainly academic lessons, while the Hostel provided life and community lessons.

The book pays tribute to the Hostel and the resilience of its residents, and in the spirit of the GBSS School Song specifically recognizes three recent ‘beacons who marked the way” for Hostel Boys in particular, and for Grenadians in general. 

Appendices include pieces by Rowley Jeffrey (Hostel Boy and author – ‘Gems in the Cracks’); by Dr. John George (renowned gynecologist), and by George Griffith (former Grenada Ambassador and now a J.P. in Toronto) – friends and admirers of the Hostel.

This book is well written with an easy style that does not weigh heavily on the mind, but instead incites laughter at some of the stories. It is worth reading.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Winston J. Phillips

ACADEMIC:

Dr. Winston Phillips, aka ‘Papalee’ and ‘Bobby’ began his academic career at the Wesley Hall Methodist School on Lucas Street, followed by two years at the St. Michael’s R.C School, in Byelands, St. Andrew, where he won a scholarship to the GBSS. 

He attended the GBSS and GBSS Hostel from 1953 to 1960. At the GBSS, Bobby was widely known for his prowess in athletics, cricket and football. He was Victor Ludorum for the 1960 GBSS School Sports and for the Inter-Island School Sports held in 1960 in Grenada. 

Other achievements while at the GBSS were: Head Prefect of the GBSS and Head Prefect of the GBSS Hostel; Company Quarter Master Sergeant (CQMS) in the GBSS Cadet Corps; voted by the School as the boy who best epitomized the spirit of the GBSS. He passed Senior Cambridge in 1957 and Higher School Certificate in 1959. In 1960 he placed 3rd in the Island Scholarship Examinations.

In 1961 Bobby was a Teacher at GBSS, before entering UWI, Mona from which, in 1964, he earned a B.SC (Econ) with Upper Second Class Honours.

In 1964, he was one of two graduate students starting the Graduate Program in Agricultural Economics at UWI, St. Augustine. His M.Sc Thesis on ” The Major Export Crops of Grenada – Market Factors and their implications for Production”, was selected as the best M.Sc thesis for 1966/67 winning two faculty prizes: the Texaco Agricultural Research Prize, and the Currie Memorial  Prize – as the student with best personal and academic record. In 1971 Bobby earned a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics from the Pennsylvania State University.

PROFESSIONAL:
Dr. Phillips became a Lecturer then; Senior Lecturer at University of Guyana from 1971-1974 when he was seconded to Guyana National Service as Assistant Director General (Planning) with a rank of Major. From 1977-1986, he was first a Commonwealth Secretariat Consultant in Agricultural Economics to CARICOM Secretariat, then Chief of the Agricultural Development Section, CARICOM Secretariat. From 1971-1982, he was the External Examiner in Economics and Agricultural Economics for the UWI campuses.

After being Coordinator of the Grenada Agricultural Rehabilitation and Crop Diversification Project from 1986-1991, Dr. Phillips worked as an FAO (UN) Consultant; and as a Consultant, Projects, at the Caribbean Food Corporation in Trinidad.  During his stint in Grenada, he was President of the GBSS Old Boys’ Association and responsible for its revival, and for the establishment of a GBSS Fire Fund.

From 1994-95 Dr. Phillips was a Consultant to Development Division, FAO, in Rome, later becoming the FAO Representative to the Stare of Eritrea, East Africa from 1995-2000. In 2000, he returned to the Region as Senior Programme Officer, FAO Sub-Regional Office in the Caribbean located in Barbados.

He retired in 2003. His book: “The Grenada Boys Secondary School Hostel: Reminiscing on a boarding school life in Grenada” was published in November, 2009.

Joe "Country" Greenidge publishes book

NEW YORK, December 17, 2011 – Well-known Grenadian singer and composer, Joseph “Country” Greenidge has published his first book.

The 56-page book entitled Come On, Stupid, “Love Yourself” was launched at a ceremony in Brooklyn earlier this month.

Joe “Country” Greenidge is a uniquely gifted personality. He is known as a Country Gospel artist and musician. He has several recorded albums to his credit.

He was the first to take country music to, possibly, the most difficult audience ever, which as when he appeared on the popular New York City television programme: “It’s Showtime at the Apollo”, in Harlem, New York.

In the words of the show’s host, Steve Harvey, “I have never seen this one before; this is a momentous moment here. You may never see this one on the Apollo’s stage again. I have never heard of a countryman that came here before.”

Joe "Country" Greenidge autographs books at launch

Joe can also boast of having a very close relationship with Mr. Vernon Winfrey, the father of television talk show hostess, and celebrity, Oprah Winfrey. Mr Winfrey, a professional barber, and owner of his own shop was Joe’s barber during his residency in Nashville.

In November 2007, Joe had the privilege of taking Mr Winfrey and his wife Barbara, along with Mr Ray Stephenson, a country singer also from Nashville, to his homeland, Grenada.

Following that, another major highlight that garnered him more success, was when he was contacted in 2007 by the Jimmy Kimmel TV Show executives in Hollywood, California.

This invitation was for him to participate in the Jimmy Kimmel TV Show “Search for America’s Greatest Black Yoldeler.”

The book, which is being sold for US$10.00, has already received rave reviews.

“Come on, Stupid, “Love Yourself” is a poignant and thought-provoking dissertation whose undergirding theme is love of God, love of self and love of neigbour, in a balanced and harmonious manner,” wrote Dr Lamuel Stanislaus, retired Dentist and UN Diplomat .

“The author seeks to arouse those of us in the society, who by our belief and action, seem to have a propensity of not loving ourselves”.

“This book is delightful, concise, and colorful words of wisdom about life and loving yourself. A very enjoyable and thought provoking read,” said Ray Stephenson, Musician, Singer and Sculptor, Nashville, Tennessee.

Persons interested in purchasing copies of the Book, Come on, Stupid, “Love Yourself” can contact the author by email at comeonstupidloveyourself@live.com or by telephone at 718-773-4354.

Time to Tell

by Gus John (Gus John Books, £7.99)

Tuesday 26 April 2011 by Alan Lloyd

More than a quarter of a century on from the murder of prime minister Maurice Bishop in Fort Rupert, Grenada, controversy still rages as to how the New Jewel Movement, which led a Marxist revolution against the tyrannical Eric Gairy in March 1979, imploded less than five years later.

Among the facts which are undisputed are that on October 13 1983 the central committee of the party ordered the house arrest of Bishop.

Thousands of Grenadians marched to Bishop's house to release him and carry him to Fort Rupert where he was expected to address them.

On arrival, gunfire started which resulted in Bishop and most of his cabinet being put against the wall and shot.

The guns were then turned on the crowd resulting in "hundreds" of deaths.

This was exactly the excuse that then US president Ronald Reagan was waiting for.

The Grenadian socialist government had been so successful that the full ire of the US and the dirty tricks section of the CIA had long been giving it their full attention.

Reagan sent in 8,000 troops along with air and naval support to take the island back into the US imperialist fold.

The rest of the New Jewel leadership were given a show trial and jailed for 17 years - all this on an island with a population of just over 100,00 people.

Gus John visited the island in December 1983 and kept a detailed diary, which is used as the basis for a book which highlights the fear, betrayal and plain confusion of ordinary Grenadians.

John argues that following the release of the remaining members of the Grenada 17 after 26 years in jail, now is the time for a full and frank explanation of the events up to the US invasion.

While acknowledging the interviews of Selwyn Strachan and Bernard Coard in the Morning Star last year John claims that fundamental questions such as who ordered the murder of Bishop and the firing on the crowd, what happened to the bodies of the dead and what exactly led to the divisions amongst the leadership which triggered the disastrous events of March 1983 remain unanswered

Although followers of the Grenadian tragedy will learn little new from this book, John makes a powerful case for suggesting that like South Africa with the ending of apartheid, it is difficult to forge a new future until the questions and ghosts of the past are finally laid to rest.

SOURCE: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/103934

Culture Minister appeals to Grenadian writers in the Diaspora

NEW YORK, October 8, 2010 - Grenadian writers and authors in the Diaspora are being encouraged to participate in the inaugural Spice Word Festival and Book Fair later this month.

Senator Arley Gill, Minister of State with Responsibility for Culture is appealing to creative writers to ensure that their works are available for display during the Festival and Book Fair scheduled for October 19-24.

“This is where we hope to display all of the books, all of the published materials since we are inviting publishers to the book fair as well,” he said.

He said that interested persons in the Diaspora can contact the Department of Culture in St. George’s within the next few days to make arrangements for their works to be on display during the Festival.

The event will conclude with a grand concert on Sunday October 24 at the Athletics Stadium which will feature three Grenadian writers in Clyde Belfon, David Franklyn and Merle Collins as well as invited guests dub poet Mutabaruka (Allan Hope) of Jamaica and Brother Resistance of Trinidad and Tobago.

Click HERE to listen to Senator Gill speaking about the Inaugural Spice Word Festival and Book Fair.

Click HERE to read background information

Senator suggests establishing award for Grenadian authors

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.

Grenadian Writer nominated for IMPAC Literary Award

Toronto, Canada, Saturday, April 11, 2010; Gems in the Cracks has been chosen for the long list, International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2010. 

Gems in the Cracks was written by Rowley Jeffery a native of St. Patrick’s, Grenada. He will be the First Ever Caribbean national writer to receive such honour for his first fictional work.

On April 14, 2010 the short list will be announced so stay tuned for updates.

ABOUT International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award:

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is the world's largest and most international prize of its kind for single work of fiction. It's prestige has grown over the last decade. One of the unique aspects of the award is that all works that are to considered must be nominated by Libraries in each capital city of the world.

Grenada Library, St. George, Grenada nominated Gems in the Cracks because the librarian believe "this book is a must read. Shows how sometimes society and the law almost let us down. But there are support structures in the same society and the law meets the criteria."

"The Author is incisive in his social and racial observation, examining causes and effects." "I enjoyed his vibrant prose which makes effective use of dialogue in order to develop characters, bringing energy to the action." Andrew Grice, Editor of Minerva Press. 

To read preview of book visit www.eventobe.com

To learn more about Rowley Jeffery please visit  www.impacdublinaward.ie/2010/Titles/Jeffrey.htm

  

All Media / INTERVIEWS Inquiries contact:

Louise Noel-Ambrose of eventobe 

eventobe@gmail.com or 289-389-7204