Caribbean Press launches 16 volumes

– Guyanese writers highlighted

“Today is the writer’s day” was one of the opening statements that were made by Professor David Dabydeen, and Guyana’s Ambassador to China at the Caribbean Press Book Launch at the Umana Yana last Friday.

Apart from praising the writers for their dedication in bringing their writings to life, Dabydeen also encouraged other writers to take full advantage of this opportunity that was given to them by the Caribbean Press Publication (CPP) to have their works published and shared with the rest of the world, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Dozens of writers and members of many other organisations were in attendance to celebrate this achievement by Guyanese writers. There were several readings from the publications launched.

Al Creighton, who is the Chairman of the CPP, said the idea to create the press stemmed from a discussion that had taken place at the 2008 Carifesta that was held in Guyana, by then President Bharrat Jagdeo with Dabydeen and many leading Caribbean writers, including Derrick Walcott, Earl Lovelace and Austin Clark to address the problem of publications in the Caribbean and particularly in Guyana.

The idea of the CPP was thereafter formed. Dabydeen and Ian Mc Donald have been editors, getting the titles of the Guyana Classics going. “David has been the actual electricity behind the series of publications coming out of the Caribbean Press,” Creighton said.

“From time to time there have been launchings of books done by the press; the Guyana Classics series has made available to the reading public many important titles, titles that are fundamental to Guyanese literature and history which would otherwise have gone out of print are now available through the publication of the Guyana Classics,” Creighton stated.

He added that new writings by mostly Guyanese writers are now being publicised through the Caribbean Press. The event showcased 13 titles and 16 volumes of writing that are fundamental to Guyana’s literature and history. These are The Hinterlands by Stanley Niamatali; Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham OE, SC National Assembly Speeches, Volumes II & III; Heads and Tails, by Pearl Lewis; Twenty-five Poems, Guyanese Children Volume I by Reverend Gideon Cecil; My Father’s Wish by Andrew DO Hutson; Collected Poems – 1937-1989 by A F Seymour; The Idyll and the Warrior (Recollections of Edgar Mittelholzer) by Jacqueline Mittelholzer; Bitter; Portia Dodson; Beacons of Excellence by Edgar Mittelholzer; Memorial Lectures – Volumes I, II & III; Duenne, Paloma Mohamed; Anthology of Contemporary Guyana Verse Volume I by Petamber Persaud (ed) and “The Dumb and the Brave” by Churaumanie Bissundyal.