Voice of Guyana International

- collection from Guyana Prize for Literature to be exhibited
Georgetown, GINA, December 3, 2007

The Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X which will be held in Guyana from August 22 to 31, 2008 will be another platform for the promotion of the work of local writers who are given recognition through the Guyana Prize for Literature.

Guyanese pieces will be joined with others from the Caribbean region for a grand book exhibition that will include books that were awarded prizes in the Guyana Prize for Literature.

Planning for the exhibition is ongoing by a committee spearheaded by poet, writer and newspaper columnist Petamber Persaud. The committee has already been reviewing venues to host the exhibition.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony recently said that the committee has been successful in making links with different publishers from the Region who will be participating in the exhibition.

“We have had some interests already from a number of publishers who will be coming down to exhibit their publications who have been telling us about bringing in a number of writers who will be launching their work at CARIFESTA,” Minister Anthony said.

Along with the exhibition, the public will be able to interact with some of the publishers.

Minister Anthony disclosed that plans for a special poetry anthology presentation for CARIFESTA are ongoing that will feature a publication of poetry.

The Guyana Prize for Literature was initiated in 1987 to promote the development of local literature. Through its awards ceremony, it aims to further provide focus for the recognition of the creative writing of Guyanese at home and abroad.

Films produced in the Caribbean will be showcased during the CARIFESTA film festival. Minister Anthony said Guyana will be collaborating with Cuba for support in this regard.

“The Cubans had done a Caribbean Film Festival where they had screened 80 films from the Caribbean and of those 80 they recommended a number for viewing. They are now upgrading that collection and we will be working with them to showcase these films. We will also invite a number of the directors of these films so that people can interact with the directors,” Minister Anthony added.

Efforts to promote the film festival will include a public display of films in the lead up to CARIFESTA. Minister Anthony said an area in the capital has been identified and the films will be shown on Saturdays. The National Communications Network (NCN) will be spearheading this activity.

Tagged: CARIFESTA, cuba, Guyana, guyana prize for literature, petamber persaud

§ 5 Responses to “Guyanese, Caribbean authors to showcase work at CARIFESTA X”

• Christopher Persaud says:

  February 3, 2009 at 8:26 am

  Sir/Madam,

  Please tell more about the Guyana Prize for Literature competition and when next it will be held.

  Chris Persaud
• INDRA PERSAD-MILOWE says:

  November 8, 2009 at 9:28 am

  “AWARD-WINNER in the POETRY INSPIRATIONAL Category of The National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News”
  “THE LOTUS BLOOMS” A Collection of Poems by RAMSUNDAR PERSAD of Trinidad, West Indies.
• INDRA PERSAD-MILOWE says:

  November 26, 2009 at 10:40 pm

  UNDER THE COVER
  Book Reviews
  By NITISH S. RELE – editor@khaasbaat.com

  “The Lotus Blooms,” by Ramsundar Persad; published by AuthorHouse (www.authorhouse.com); 46 pages; $10.49.

  It wasn’t till after his death in 2002 that Ramsundar Persad’s family discovered 36 typewritten poems in a brown folder by his bedside table. The poems about faith, trust, gratitude, struggle, love, were published posthumously in a book form.

  Of course, this wasn’t Persad’s first book. He previous wrote four books, including “Rites, Rituals and Customs,” as well as several English transliterations. He also penned the annual Diwali addresses to the nation by the then-president of Trinidad and Tobago, Noor Mohamed Hassanali.

  A magistrate for 34 years, Persad writes poems in a simple and straightforward language that anyone can read and comprehend. Here’s one of his gems:

  “I Lost My Heart To You”

  You are my only love
  The only one I love so true
  Since the day your face I had seen
  I lost my heart to you

  The night I find is long and lonely
  The day so quickly through
  This is because I love you truly
  Since I love my heart to you

  I always dream your lovely face
  Throughout the day I think of you
  I imagine you in my embrace
  As I lost my heart to you

  Let me be far from you no longer
  Be with me all life through
  Let my heart no longer hunger
  For I have lost my heart to you

  Contact Information
  The Editor: editor@khaasbaa

  Ramsundar Persad posted at 11/6/09 3:0
  KHASSBAAT – A Publication for Indian Americans in Florida.

  BOSTON SOUTH ASIAN NEWSPAPER – November 2009 Issue

  “THE LOTUS BLOOMS” A Collection of Poems by Ramsundar Persad.
  Timeless Collection of Poetry Celebrates Earthly, Heavenly Love.

  Ramsundar Persad’s Posthumous Collection Offers Daily Thoughts on Love, Trust and Faith.

  In an instance of bittersweet fortuity, a beautiful collection of 36 type-written poems was found after author Ramsundar Persad’s passing, left in a brown folder in his bedside table and dedicated to his wife, Hema, and his daughters, Indra, Vidia and Saty.
  This forgotten gem is revived in the newly published collection, “The Lotus Blooms” a Collection of Poems (published by Author-House) which has been published posthumously by his daughters in order to share the sage, delicate words of their father with others.
  Ramsundar Persad was born and lived his entire life in Trinidad, West Indies, the author of 5 Published Books, including the popular
  Rites, Rituals and Customs associated with the Hindu Marriage Ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago.
  Along with these works, he was the author of 7 Published English Transliterations and 3 Unpublished Works.

  He was well known for his work on “The Power of Prayer” in everyday life and was a frequent guest on numerous radio stations on other religious subjects.
  “The Lotus Blooms” a Collection of Poems is a companion to these teachings, expressing his understanding of human longing for both earthly and heavenly love.
  “The Lotus Blooms” a Collection of Poems captures the ephemeral nature of earthly love and life as Persad strives for divine communion
  in his work.

  His subjects range from poems inspired by the survival and strength of his grandmother, Gangee Maharaj, who came to Trinidad as an indentured immigrant and had to labor and confront all obstacles to thrive in life, to other poems about daily trust, faith, cleansing your heart, showing gratitude, and love.

  These sentiments are expressed in an excerpt from one of his poems “The Call”:
  We are going backwards it seems to me
  In certain things I am sure
  We progress in science and inventions
  In greater things we are poor
  Our books are open before us all
  The facts you ought to read
  The lessons we learned since childhood
  Now we do not heed

  Old Bacchus we make our God
  And Venus another one
  Have we forgotten our dear Lord
  Has Ravan really won

  Ideal for meditation upon the various manifestations of earthly and divine love.

  “The Lotus Blooms” a Collection of Poems will capture readers’ hearts and minds.
  Email: info@Bostonsouthasian.org

  The Lotus Blooms “Award-Winner Poetry: Inspirational Category of the National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News”.

  BOSTON SOUTH ASIAN
  617-33 4-6781
  info@BostonSouthAsian.com
• INDRA PERSAD-MILOWE says:

  November 27, 2009 at 7:05 am

  Monday October 19th 2009.

  Congratulations!
  Poetry: Inspirational Winner:
  The Lotus Blooms: A Collection of Poems by Ramsundar Persad
  AuthorHouse
  ISBN: 978-1-4389-5850-7
  The epic results are in for the National “Best Books 2009…” Awards!
  Your book has been honored as a “Winner” in the “Poetry:
  Inspirational” category!
  ==============================
  The Lotus Blooms: A Collection of Poems by Ramsundar Persad
  Winner Poetry: Inspirational.
  ==============================
  Your title will be listed live on USABookNews.com for an
  additional six (6) months.
  A complete list of Winners and Finalists in each category can be found at:
  http://www.usabooknews.com/2009bestbooksawards.html
  Winners can use the following verbiage:
  “Award-Winner Poetry: Inspirational Category of the National Best Books 2009 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News”.
  A major publicity campaign announcing the award results is already underway and will continue throughout the holidays.
  The categories are in alphabetical order:
  http://www.usabooknews.com/2009bestbooksawards.html
  THE NATIONAL PRESS RELEASE:
  http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooks2009release.htmlRead More
  USA Book News – Covering What’s Hot, New, & Noteworthy in the World of Books
  Source: http://www.usabooknews.com
  Thousands of Book Listings and Annual Sponsor of the National Best Books Awards!
• INDRA PERSAD-MILOWE says:

  November 27, 2009 at 7:23 am

  From The Old South Reporter at:
  The Old South Church in Boston

  July 17, 2009 From:
  “The Lotus Blooms” A Collection of Poems by Ramsundar Persad of Trinidad, West Indies.

  A PRAYER

  O Lord show me the road that is right
  Brighten my way with thy loving light
  Be my companion every night
  Give me strength for every fight

  Guide me to do the things I should
  Help me to be always kind and good
  Pains and sorrows take away from me
  At death take me with thee

  Help my friends to know thee better
  Those in sorrow make them happier
  I beg for your ever loving care
  For you are the one who is always near

  Our prayers you have always answered
  Help us to know the good from the bad
  Forgive us of the sins we have committed
  Then to heaven let us be admitted

  Ramsundar Persad (1927-2002) lived his entire life in Trinidad, West Indies. This poem was submitted by Indra Persad-Milowe, a regular worshipper at the Thursday night Jazz Worship Services at Old South and daughter of the Author.
  For more details of The Lotus Blooms,
  see

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