Minister assures at writers/artists award function...
Govt. to continue supporting literary upliftment
By Chamanlall Naipaul
Guyana Chronicle
December 29, 2003
Education Minister Dr. Henry Jeffrey has given the assurance that government will continue to support efforts to uplift literary standards in Guyana.
The minister gave this assurance at yesterday's awards ceremony of the Guyana Association of Writers and Artists (GAWA) literary competition held at Guyana Oil Company's (GUYOIL) Conference Room, Public Road, Kitty.
Responding to a call for greater emphasis on literary studies within the school system by both the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Al Creighton and President of GAWA, Roopnandan Singh, the Minister concurred that today's children are not reading enough, pointing out that this has contributed to lower levels of examination passes in English not only here but in the entire Caribbean. He attributed the influence of the electronic medium as one of the major causes of this problem, adding that it is more pronounced in Guyana because of the lower level of resources available for education in the public education system. He noted that in the local private school system where more resources are available the level of passes is higher than that of its Caribbean counterparts.
Reiterating government's commitment to the upliftment of literary levels, Dr. Jeffrey assured GAWA that it would give as much support as possible to the association in its efforts to promote local literature and Guyanese writers.
In congratulating the winners of the competition, Dr. Jeffrey observed that one has to be "brave" to go public with his/her writings because of the scrutiny they undergo, advising them that there is "always room for improvement."
Emphasizing the national importance of Literature Singh contended that while history records events in society, "literature captivates the spirit of the times, and is an analytical tool." He further offered that literature "transforms and transcends," and can contribute significantly to the healing and unification process in the society and the world over. He also urged that literature become a compulsory subject up to the fifth form level.
Commending the winners of the competition Singh urged the other participants to persevere and they will also eventually become winners.
GAWA was launched in 1998 at State House, the official residence of the President of Guyana, with the objective of promoting the work and upgrading the skills of local creative writers and artists.
In the junior poetry category the winner was Ms. Vanessa Williams and the runners-up were Ms. Andrea Williams and Sahendra Persaud.
Sharon Lall emerged the winner in a special peace prize poetry category and the runner-up was Wenny Lee Chester.
In the open fiction category Roy Paul won and Robert J. Fernandes was the runner up, while in the open poetry grouping Cecil Roopnarine was the winner and Fernandes the runner-up.
In a special under 18 poetry grouping Aliya Bulkan emerged the winner.
Popular Guyanese playwright Ms. Paloma Mohamed made a special award to promising writers, and the recipients were Ms. Sonia Hudson and Ms. Nailina Johnson.