A celebration of books, writers and writing, with a Caribbean focus and international scope in the form of The Bocas Lit Fest took place at the National Library and old fire station, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, from April 28 to May 1.Founder Marina Salandy-Brown said there was reason to celebrate, since the Caribbean had produced writers like Nobel Laureates Derek Walcott and Sir Vidia Naipaul, Samuel Selvon, Edgar Mitteholzer and Martin Carter.The important literary festival, which tapped into T&T's rich literary heritage and exploited T&T's position as an economic and literary hub of the Southern Caribbean to put writings on the global stage, has provided an opportunity to bring a lot of literary and creative energy together in one place for readers to enjoy.
It also allowed writers a rare chance to interact with readers in an informal setting, exchange ideas and views, and sought to reward literary excellence.Poet Derek Walcott was named the 2011 OCM Bocac Prize winner for White Egrets.Among those who lent their skills and expertise were St Lucian poet Vladimir Lucien, Alake Pilgrim, Jamaican poet Tanya Shirley, and British academic Charlotte Williams. (Compiled by Michelle Loubon)
