The 10th annual St. Maarten Book Fair was opened officially on Thursday night with African dance, words of welcome, a musical performance, the keynote address by Professor Norman Girvan and the symbolic cutting of the ribbon at the Belair Community Centre.
CAY HILL--The tenth annual St. Maarten Book Fair was opened officially on Thursday night with a programme that featured African dance, words of welcome and greetings, a musical performance, a keynote address by Professor Norman Girvan and the symbolic cutting of the ribbon.
Emcee for the evening Clara Reyes welcomed an enthusiastic and attentive audience at Belair Community Centre. The ceremony featured words of welcome by Conscious Lyrics Foundation President Shujah Reiph, who stressed the importance of exposing and promoting local St. Maarten/St. Martin writers, and by House of Nehesi Publishers President Jacqueline Sample.
It also featured remarks by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and University of St. Martin President Annelies van den Assem.
President of the Collectivité of St. Martin Alain Richardson and Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Cornelius de Weever were also in attendance.
A musical interlude with twins Ming and Ling performing on piano preceded the keynote address given by economist, author and Professor Norman Girvan, who praised the success of Caribbean literature.
The official opening ceremony concluded with the cutting of the ribbon, after which guests participated in book fair exhibitions, book signings by various authors and a reception with refreshments.
In her remarks, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, spoke about “exciting times” and urged book lovers to “be engaged, be challenged, and enjoy.”
“I would like to recognise the vision of the founders of the Book Fair, their steadfast contribution over the years and the commitment to the originality of the book fair. The book has remained the centrepiece and works of literature the forte of this event,” the Prime Minister told the gathering.
She said the communication, information and education factors the Book Fair had embraced since its inception were ever-evolving and there always had been an evolution in the St. Maarten Book Fair, keeping the event exciting year after year.
She continued: “What has been impressive has always been the line-ups of writers and poets which the organisers have been able to secure and which have allowed so many different cultures to converge in St. Maarten. As a society we need critical thinkers and over the years and inspired by the Book Fair many persons have put pen to paper. Many writers have honed their skills because of the Book Fair.
“We take it a little for granted when the Lasanas, the Nicoles and the Dows and many others make regional and international headlines. We live in exciting times and St. Maarten is no exception. Our country is a work in progress and we need to make sure that these times are documented from the different perspectives that make up our society, and this documentation should be promoted.
“There is no better place in this world to see Caribbean interaction in a global environment than in these 37 square miles we call home.”
The theme for this year’s book fair is “Forward” with the focus on the years ahead in terms of depicting cultural literary work not just in the Caribbean, but globally, celebrating literary achievements, coming up with new ideas and participating in intellectual debate.
The Book Fair will run until June 3 with a variety of sessions and events being held on both sides of the island.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/28373-tenth-st-maarten-book-fair.html
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