Caribbean Books of the Year (CRB)

Nicholas Laughlin of our sister blog, Antilles (the blog of the CRB: Caribbean Review of Books) and former editor of Caribbean Beat, has listed the CRB books of the year. Here's what made the cut:

After-Image, by Dennis Scott, ed. Mervyn Morris (Peepal Tree Press)
A posthumous selection of poems by the much-missed Jamaican writer, published seventeen years after his death. Dating mostly from the last years of his life, these poems seem to foreshadow Scott's untimely departure; they also reintroduce an important forbear to today's emerging writers. (Reviewed by F.S.J. Ledgister in the November 2008 CRB.)

Cuba: Art and History from 1868 to Today, ed. Nathalie Bondil (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts)
This massive catalogue of an exhibition that ran at the MMFA looks at the development of art in modern Cuba against the background of the country's tempestuous history over the last century and a half--reproducing works from the national collections alongside documentary photographs, commercial art, and political propaganda. (Reviewed by Nicholas Laughlin in the August 2008 CRB.)

Horses in Her Hair: A Granddaughter's Story, by Rachel Manley (Key Porter Books)
Manley's third family memoir tells the story of her grandmother Edna Manley--wife of Jamaica's first premier and mother of the country's fifth prime minister, but also a cultural icon in her own right. Gently, honestly, eloquently, Manley offers a lingering assessment of a woman who was a legend in her own time. (Look out for a review in the February 2009 CRB.)

Jamaican Food: History, Biology, Culture, by B.W. Higman (University of the West Indies Press)
At once a cultural history, an anthropological study, and an encyclopedia of flora and fauna--fish, flesh, and fowl--Higman's comprehensive survey of "food practices" in Jamaica, from the time of the pre-Columbian Taino to the present, is a surprisingly entertaining miscellany of historical references, statistics, recipes, and anecdotes. (Reviewed by Anu Lakhan in the November 2008 CRB.)

Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Gay and Lesbian Writing from the Antilles, ed. Thomas Glave (Duke University Press)
A landmark anthology of fiction, poems, essays, and memoirs by thirty-seven writers, confronting head-on one of the contemporary Caribbean's areas of darkness. Whether telling tender love stories or declaiming fierce polemics, these voices insist that gay and lesbian writers (and readers) have a central place in the Caribbean literary tradition. (Reviewed by Kelly Baker Josephs in the November 2008 CRB.)

Pynter Bender, by Jacob Ross (Fourth Estate)
This epic first novel by Grenadian Jacob Ross--also author of two short story collections--tells the strange and densely lyrical story of the title character's childhood and adolescence in an unnamed island shadowed by a sinister dictator. Pynter's growth into troubled consciousness and his movement from his rural home village to the confusions of urban life mirror his island's social evolution. (Look out for a review in the February 2009 CRB.)

The Same Earth, by Kei Miller (Weidenfeld and Nicholson)
The first novel by one of the most accomplished Caribbean writers of his generation shows the development of the gifts Miller displayed in his previous books of poems and short fiction: narrative energy, wry humour, and a knowingness about the world as tender as it is unsparing. (Reviewed by Lisa Allen-Agostini in the November 2008 CRB.)

Selected Poems, by Ian McDonald, ed. Edward Baugh (Macmillan Caribbean)
This career-summing volume by an eminent Caribbean man of letters assembles poems written in six decades. McDonald's poems are scrupulously attentive to the world and its joys and pains; only rarely does lyrical talent so closely coincide with generosity of spirit. (Look out for a review in the February 2009 CRB.)

Trinidad Noir, ed. Lisa Allen-Agostini and Jeanne Mason (Akashic)
This bold anthology of short fiction by both celebrated writers and new unknowns stares unblinking into the dark corners and alleyways of the contemporary Caribbean, and reminds us that--despite the brightly coloured stereotypes--these islands have always been home to violence and brutality and things we'd rather forget. (Look out for a review in the May 2009 CRB.)

The World Is What It Is: The Authorised Biography of V.S. Naipaul, by Patrick French (Picador/Knopf)
The literary sensation of the year, French's biography of the Caribbean's most polarising writer--the man we love to hate and hate to love--is a gripping and ultimately moving study of a literary intelligence prepared to destroy everything in its path in its quest to understand the world. (Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor in the November 2008 CRB.)

TTOC's Sportspeople of the Year

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeAs the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee's (TTOC) 60th anniversary celebrations came to a close, the group awarded double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson and fellow sprinter and NCAA champion Kelly Ann Baptiste with the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards at the President's House in St. Ann's, Trinidad yesterday.

Captain of the national cricket team Darren Ganga was awarded Sports Personality of the Year. Among the young people, 18-year-old long long-distance runner and triathlete Gavyn Nero was selected as the Junior Sportsman of the year and 19-year-old track-and-fielder Janeil Bellille Sportswoman of the Year.

Long distance runner Dwight Yearwood, who competes with a physical disability, was presented with the Alexander B. Chapman Award.

Anchors aweigh! T&T Water Taxi at your service

After many a delay, and the occasional intrigue, the coastal water taxi service in Trinidad is full steam ahead.

The official launch and maiden voyage took place today, and – with the exception of New Year's Day 2009 – eight daily sailings will be made by three vessels between San Fernando and Port of Spain.

Here's the 411:

• Cost: TT$15 each way, TT$30 round trip
• Trip length: approximately one hour
• Vessel capacity: 150-180 passengers
  
• San Fernando Departures: 6:00 & 7:00am and 3:15 & 4:15pm
  
• Port of Spain Departures: 7:15 & 8:15am and 4:30 and 5:30pm
  
• San Fernando Terminal: Flat Rock, Lady Hailes Avenue
• Port of Spain Terminal: Cruise Ship Complex, Wrightson Road
• Shuttle: a shuttle service for passengers is provided in Port of Spain on mornings and afternoons, with provisional east-bound and west-bound routes around downtown Port of Spain

At the moment, like the inter-island ferries between Trinidad and Tobago, tickets can only be bought at the terminals and not online.

There also are talks of expanding the coastal water taxi route to include stops further along the southwestern and northwestern coasts, as well as the introduction of fast ferries which could shave up to 25-30 minutes off travel times.

Have you been on the water taxi service? Tell us what you thought!

Image copyright Stephen Cummings, JustForInfo.org

Bajan superstar Rihanna sings for historic Presidential inauguration night

Grammy award-winning Barabdian songstress Rihanna is set to perform at the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) Presidential Inauguration Charity Ball on January 20, 2009.

In addition to the prestige of performing on such a historic night at such a high-profile event, the 20-year-old can also feel proud that proceeds from the evening benefit one of the US' leading chartities, Feeding America.

What's next for the talented singer, who one might note is still be legally underage to drink alchohol in the US? Only time will tell!

And to all our readers – season's greetings!

Season's greetings from us to you, our readers!

From the MEP (Media & Editorial Projects Ltd) and CAL (Caribbean Airlines) families to yours, we thank you for your support over the last year, and wish you and yours peace, joy, prosperity and hope over the holiday season and all through the year to come.

And if you're looking for last-minute gift ideas, make sure to visit the Caribbean Beat website where you can order gift subscriptions online!

Early next year we will be launching our newly redesigned and upgraded website, as well as countless opportunities for our loyal advertisers, contributors, subscribers, supporters and partners. We'll also be celebrating the 100th issue of Caribbean Beat. Stay tuned!

Happy holidays & Happy New Year to all!

Christmas on Scarborough Esplanade

The management of the Scarborough Esplanade had such a good response last year, that they decided 'Christmas on the Esplanade' was worth doing again. This year the crowd was definitely larger and with more features added to the programme, it's sure to become a main event on the Tobago Christmas calender.

The first show was held on December 7, and every weekend until Christmas (December 21 and 28), there will be entertainment for the family along the breezy ocean-front promenade.

The show on the 12th was an all day event, starting with an ole time Christmas breakfast (including dirt oven bread, roast pork), ole time Christmas lunch and then the entertainment later. The lighting of the Christmas tree also took place that evening, and the Esplanade became the next best spot to be in town, second only to the wonderland created in the Scarborough Botanical Gardens.

A great place to take the entire family (Santa is there at every show) and enjoy being entertained by:

On December 21:

• MC- Michael Baker
• Redemption Soundsetters
• Harmonics
• Golden Apple
• Princess Adana
• Xtreme
• Ninja
• Mucho Tempo
• Youth Quake
• Ringo

On December 28:

• MC - Michael Baker
• Redemption Soundsetters
• Pleasure Pirates
• Boys Brigade
• Princess Adana
• Xtreme
• Ninja
• Mucho Tempo
• Soul Expression
• Prince Unique
• Cadet Band
• Fire Fusion
• Oscar B
• Ringo

And of course, it's free!

Eating Blue in Tobago - Blue Food Festival 2008

I must apologise for this late and long overdue sharing of another great culinary event in Tobago. I've been out of the country and did not have access to an English computer keyboard and no cheap internet cafes.

Early morning rain threatened to deter those of us who'd been planning to go to 'Blue Food' this year, but it turned out to be just that: only a threat. The weather was beautiful for the first time in a few years on the festival day. Rain or no rain my teenagers were determined that they were going; nothing could stop teenaged boys from holding on to the promise of lots and lots of food and from testing their manhood by playing with the big snakes in the mini zoo!

As usual, the drive to the countryside was therapeutic. Vehicles were only allowed up to a certain point into the village of Bloody Bay and numerous shuttles were available to take the eager patrons to the site. You were greeted with a magnificent backdrop of rich green mountains, singing birds, and past Blue Food Queen Show ladies escorted specially invited guests to their seats.

The morning was dedicated to tasting all the exotic variety of dishes that could be prepared with dasheen. I saw dasheen cheesecake, dasheen pizza, dasheen chicken with dasheen dip, dasheen ice cream, dasheen chips and cookies, dasheen pies, dasheen sweetbread and dasheen bread (which I bought of course!) and the list can go on and on!

There was live local music and scores of children flocked to see the animals at the mini zoo. The crowd seems to get bigger every year and more foreign tourists seem to have discovered our little secret here in the countryside.

There was also the usual competition. Each competitor presented three dishes and four judges were present to judge the food prepared in the following categories:

1. Cook of the day
2. Best tasting dish
3. Most innovative dish
4. Best dessert
5. Best drink
6. Best table display
7. Spirit of the competition

The cultural show started at about two and though I couldn't stay, I did get a glimpse of the programme. Scheduled to perform were Singing Sandra, Baron, Shadow, Princess Adanna, Keishon Jack, and Black Stalin. (Real vex I couldn't stay!)

Enjoy the pictures I took! Not many labels needed this time!

Pictures Below:
1. Bloody Bay Recreation Grounds
2. Students of Tobago Hospitality Institute (THTI) - Far left is Tabitha DeLisle - Marketing and Communications for THTI
3. The Stage
4. Cross Section of the Crowd
5. Caretaker at the mini zoo with his snake
All other pics are of food!

Nahhh.... not till end of month

Well the second-to-last projected date for commencement of water taxi services was "the end of December", and after a teasing revision to make it December 18th... we're back to the end of the month.

We'll let you know how it goes...and if the terminal buildings get an upgrade before first sailing.

Acclaim and attention for the DR

The DR is the location for a new National Geographic channel documentary called Shipwreck, Captain Kidd. The film investigates the discovery and study of the Cara Merchant pirate ship, found off Catalina Island, east of mainland DR. The wreck site, up to now, is the only pirate ship ever discovered in the Caribbean and one of only three discovered in the Americas.

The ship will be turned into a living public museum, and is due to open by the beginning of 2010. In addition to the Cara Merchant ship, Indiana University is looking to have three other underwater areas designated as living museums. The "no-take, no-anchor" designation would protect the areas' natural ecosystems, with the support of the DR's Office of Underwater Cultural Heritage (ONPCS) – a kind of management office the rest of the Caribbean might benefit from introducing.

Collectively, the living museums would be known as the La Romana-Bayahibe Regional Preserve Network. USAID already has contributed US$200,000 to the museum project.

Meanwhile, the US-based Travel Weekly voters have named the Dominican Republic their top Caribbean destination. One must bear in mind, of course, that the DR's economic and political relationship with the US gives it a distinct advantage over other Caribbean islands, but it still pays tribute to the island's well oiled tourism machine.

Oh dear: will Stanford 20/20 even be here next year?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Perhaps it was too good to be true: big prize money, sell-out stadiums, new training programmes, audience development, and revitalising cricket in the West Indies.

Well, now all that seems in doubt.

Less than three years after the game's launch in the Caribbean, the progenitor of Stanford 20/20 cricket, Texan billionaire Allen Stanford, has dissolved his West Indies 20/20 Cricket Board of Legends (Vivian Richards, Garfield Sobers, Everton Weekes, Wes Hall, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Lance Gibbs, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, and Richie Richardson), and is apparently taking a second look at his 20/20 programme in the region.

The move comes on the heels of highly publicised disputes with the West Indies Cricket Board and Digicel over contractual and sponsorship issues before the Stanford Super Series last month.

But it seems it's just the Caribbean he's having that kind of difficulty with, as he's indicated he still wants to work with the English and Welsh cricket boards. A decision about the future of Stanford 20/20 in Caribbean is set to be announced at the end of next month.

So once again we ask: wither West Indies cricket (substitute: football, tennis, swimming, etc etc etc), and why can't we get this right?

Click here to listen to more from BBC Caribbean.

Macqueripe update

"Construction" began at Macqueripe beach in Chaguaramas back in August, and was due to open by Christmas Day, according to some reports. I decided to take a trip across to see what condition this much-loved Trini beach was in.



According to the signs on the property, work will not be completed until January 27th. If anyone goes to Macqueripe over the Christmas holidays before we do, and finds that work actually has largely been completed, drop us a line!

So what did you think of T&T's 3rd place finish in Miss World?

I forgot it was on, hadn't been tracking people's status messages on Twitter or Facebook as closely as usual, and didn't see a blink of Gabrielle Walcott's 3rd place run through the 2008 Miss World competition in South Africa over the weekend.

I've heard she did well. And folks are well proud.

Faithful readers, how was it for you?
And how do you feel about "beauty contests"?
Inquiring minds want to know! :)

National Parang Finals Recap

Saturday night proved to be a treat for parang lovers as the National Parang Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NPATT) held their annual National Parang competition finals. The event took place at the Parang Headquarters in Arima.

Schools' parang winners, St. Augustine Girls' High School and runners-up, Bishop's/Trinity East gave the crowd lively opening performances and set the stage for the parang "showdown".

Seasoned parang champs, Los Alumnos de San Juan, gave an offering of La Dedicacion, El Salvador and Tribute to Daisy Voisin. Their theatrical, refreshing performance earned them 331 points which made them winners of the night.

2007 champions, Amantes de Parranda followed closely with a score of 326 points after they performed O Maria, Canto El Anuncion and Vamos a Cantar. Third place went to Los Pastores de Palo Seco who gave the judges their rendition of A La Media Noche, Cantemos and El Rio Manzanare and earned 312 points. T

The following is a list of the remaining bands and scores from Saturday night:

• Los Amigos Cantadores - El Destino de la Virgin, La Salutacion and Biddy Biddy, Bom Bom
• (297 points)
• Voces Jovenes - Oiga La Voz del Angel, Celebremos and Guarapo (281 points)
• Paramininos - La Anunciacion, El Salvador and Nada (270 points)
• La Familia de Rio Claro - Anunciacion, Nacimiento and Levanta (255 points)

If you missed out on Saturday be sure not to miss the Los Reyes celebrations at St. Joseph Park, St. Joseph, which marks the official close of the 2008 parang season, on January 4, 2009.

Rihanna is Billboard's top female artist

Bajan singer Rihanna has been named as one of Billboard's top artists of 2008. The 20-year-old singer was the top female in the rankings. Her boyfriend Chris Brown claimed the number one spot as the top artist for a second consecutive year. Rapper Lil Wayne placed second, with Rihanna placing third. Alicia Keys and country singer Taylor Swift rounded out the top five.

Billboard's artist rankings are determined by album sales as well as digital downloads, radio airplay and internet streams

Rihanna, who is signed to the Def Jam label, enjoyed a huge year with the re-release of her album Good Girl Gone Bad, which included tracks such as Disturbia, written by Brown and Take A Bow, written by NeYo. Both songs spent time at number one on the Billboard charts.

She also had a winning collaboration with rapper TI, singing on his record Live Your Life, which topped the singles charts at number one last week.

In an interview with Billboard, Brown said he is working with Rihanna on her new album as well as some collaborations for the both of them.

"Like Kamau Brathwaite, or Martin Carter...."

Two minutes and forty-one seconds well spent: the UK Guardian posts a video of Linton Kwesi Johnson reading "If I Woz a Tap Natch Poet".

And the Caribbean World Travel Awards winners are...

The World Travel Awards winners for the Caribbean were announced at an elaborate ceremony in the Turks & Caicos earlier this month. Here are some of the Caribbean's overall winners:

Caribbean's Leading Adventure Excursion Operator	Chukka Caribbean Adventures
Caribbean's Leading Airport	La Romana International Airport, Dominican Republic
Caribbean's Leading Beach	Grace Bay Beach (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands)
Caribbean's Leading Cruise Destination	Jamaica
Caribbean's Leading Cruise Port	Bahamas
Caribbean's Leading Destination	Jamaica
Caribbean's Leading Green Resort	Tiamo, South Andros Island, Bahamas
Caribbean's Leading Tourist Board	Jamaica
Caribbean's Leading Travel Information Website	Totally Barbados

Image by Phil of Ottawa via FlickrThe nominations from island to island and region-wide seem to be a little sparse, with some of the most well-known or most popular not even nominated.

The full list of winners can be viewed here on the World Travel Awards site.

Bonaire does it again

For the seventh straight year, Bonaire has been voted one of the top dive destination in the Caribbean/Atlantic region by Scuba Diving magazine's Readers' Choice Awards for 2008. The results will be published in the January issue of the magazine.

This also comes alongside top ratings in several other categories, including top marine life; top marine environment; top macro life; top shore diving destination; top destination for underwater photography; top destination for beginners; top value; and top snorkelling.

Wow.

And as in many other respects, Bonaire continues to lead the way in the conservation – and sustainable monetisation – of their natural environment, particularly their territorial waters.

Here's hoping other islands can follow their example and see the benefits of cherishing the stunning natural environments that make the Caribbean so special.

Christmas in the Caymans

The Cayman Islands tourist website has an interesting section dedicated to country-specific Christmas traditions (including recipes for CI Christmas treats!), with historical contexts for how the traditions evolved and became a Christmas cultural tradition. Here's an excerpt:

Long ago Christmas in Cayman was joyfully celebrated as the most festive time of the year. Christmas was the time of awakening for the islands. At Christmas time everyone came alive and the Islands became vibrant with colours.

Christmas was also the time of year when everyone came home. You see the Cayman Islands boasts a strong sea fearing Heritage. Many of the men left the islands once they were in their late teens in order to work with various shipping companies; it was there way of making a living. So when it was Christmas the families of the Cayman Islands became very anticipated as they looked forward to the return of the seamen. This added to how special the Christmas season was.

The most remembered and most revered Christmas tradition is that of the Sand Yard. As many others in the world dream about a white Christmas, people in the Cayman Islands also liked a white Christmas. Of course not possible with snow as we are located in the tropics, but a white Christmas in Cayman meant snow-white sand yards. From as early as late October the women and children started gathering large amounts of sand from the beaches.

Many Caymanians still remember ‘backing sand’ (carrying it) from the beach on moonlit nights. The sand would then be brought back to the yard and put in even piles. On Christmas Eve morning the piles of sand would be swept across the yard making it absolutely white. The newly swept sand was not allowed to be walked on until Christmas day, as it was a special part of the season. A path of gravel would be laid from the gate to the front door, lined with conch shells to keep the gravel together; this would be used as the footpath to the house. Each year the preparing of the sand yard stood as a competition to see who would have the whitest and prettiest sand yard on island.

The white sand yard is a beautiful tradition that you can still see today, many of the old Caymanian houses that are found on the island still have white sand yards.

Another special event took place in Cayman at Christmas that added to the excitement of the season. Christmas concerts, all the churches on the islands organized concerts that the children would take part in. At the concerts the children would recite Christmas poems, which they had memorized. It was a time for much excitement as this was also the occasion for new clothes, hats and shoes.

The main focus of Christmas was centered on the church. Coming from a strong Christian background, first thing Christmas morning in the Cayman Islands there were church services. Everyone attended church where there was always a special service to be heard.

Meanwhile, the island's newest tourist attraction is due open over the Christmas holiday. A 2.5 million gallon lagoon has been built on the site of the old Turtle Farm in West Bay on Grand Cayman and dubbed Dolphin Discovery. It's now home to six bottle-nosed dolphins captured in Cuba, who are the main attraction for those wanting to swim with dolphins.

Water taxis for December 18th...?

Local news sources have been reporting that the long-awaited 1-hour water taxi service between San Fernando and Port of Spain is due for a maiden voyage for December 18th, or next week Thursday.

But – in addition to the controversial delay – the upgrading of the terminal facilities, press voyage, and even taking footage of the terminal areas ahead of its maiden voyage – seem to be contentious and veiled in secrecy. We're not sure why, but we'll keep you posted about when you can buy your ticket, board, and set sail.

Walcott on Omeros

The BBC World Service is currently running a lengthy question-and-answer session with Derek Walcott in its World Book Club series.

Fielding questions from a studio audience and listeners around the world, Walcott insists that Omeros is not a reworking or transformation of Homer in a Caribbean setting, as so many commentators have assumed. He has some interesting technical points about the metrical and rhyming structure of the poem and the "ancestors" to whom these elements pay tribute. He talks about the problems of using Caribbean creole in poetry, and about his avoidance of metaphor ("metaphor is an accident, an evocation": the aim is to have a noun create the physicality of an object, not simply evoke it).

At the end of the session, Walcott remarks that, out of the whole history of poetic endeavour, only about 300-400 pages can be called real poetry. "Including some of yours?" enquires the presenter. To which Walcott replies, "Let me speak to my lawyer."

You can listen to the programme on demand for a week after its first broadcast, or download it as a podcast. Go to www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice and follow the links.

Jamaica confident of tourism dominance; Barbados not so sure; USVI rebrands

Jamaica's Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is confident that Jamaica has not only weathered the economic downturn of the last few months, but is better positioned than any of its Caribbean neighbours at least to maintain if not grow its tourism sector during the impending recession.

According to Bartlett, the island has experienced little disruption in its tourism industry, and boasts that no airline has cancelled scheduled or charter flights to Jamaica, while they have to other destinations.

"For this winter, despite all of the prognostications of great downturn, and we are not expecting to be immune from that, Jamaica still has one million air-seats out of the markets of the world – some 750,000 out of the United States of America alone; 173,000 out of Canada; and 139,000 out of the United Kingdom," he said. "Jamaica has more than 157 attractions, which is more than all the other Caribbean islands combined," he said.

How has Jamaica managed this? Through diversifying the sector and catering to the needs of an ever widening range of visitor interests, including faith-based tourism, health and wellness, and sports tourism in the wake of its star sprinter Usain Bolt's outstanding performances in 2008.

Meanwhile, the Barbados Central Bank is anticipating up to a five per cent dip in tourist arrivals in the coming months, with up to a 20 per cent drop if the recession is really grave. The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association Executive Vice President Sue Springer claims that the hotel sector is already being impacted by the global economic slowdown. "The majority of the hotels are seeing a reduction in the pace of bookings – anything from about five to 25 per cent; on average 15 per cent overall," she said. Cruise ship tourism, however, is said to still be strong.

Meanwhile, the US Virgin Islands is rebranding in an effort to become even more competitive as tourists become more picky with their travel dollars. The tourism board has unveiled a new logo with a familiar Caribbean/African icon, the moko jumbie, which apparently "best represents the elements of the USVI experience", according to a press release.

"The Mocko Jumbie [sic] character symbolises the vibrancy of our people and our culture, while the stars represent the individual spirits of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas," explained Beverly Nicholson-Doty, commissioner of tourism. The new logo also will be applied to a new website to launch next month.

More Naipauliana

V.S. Naipaul's Room, from the Writers' Rooms series, by Eamonn McCabe

I've been posting so much Naipauliana here of late, dear readers, I may as well continue. First, Pico Ayer reviews The World Is What It Is in Time:

The central question the book raises is how much inhumanity is justified in the cultivation of a talent--especially in an age when (as Naipaul is shrewd enough to realize) writers are judged on the basis of their personality more than their art. Even as he turned himself into a bespoke English gentleman, after all, while Pat became the obedient and self-denying Indian wife of legend, Naipaul's strength lay not just in the clarity of his observations but in the passion--the grief and terror and rage--that trembled just beneath them.

Next, an essay by Vivian Gornick comparing Naipaul and James Baldwin, in the latest Boston Review (thanks to Antilles reader Andre Bagoo for sending me the link):

Two men of color: one black, one brown; one American, one Trinidad-Indian; both in a bottomless rage over having been born outsiders into a world dominated by whites; both released into a genius for writing by the force and influence of that very rage. If ever there were a pair of writers who, with roughly equivalent results, made the same virtue out of the same enduring necessity, surely it was V.S. Naipaul and James Baldwin. But it is the difference, not the sameness, between them that is compelling.

Finally, a long book review-cum-essay (PDF link) by William H. Pritchard in the Autumn 2008 Hudson Review (thanks to Matthew Hunte for the link):

About a particularly stressful year in Naipaul’s life, his biographer remarks that throughout it he had “remained focussed on two things: himself and his writing.” Looking at his career in its entirety, it must be said that remaining focussed on self and writing was not at all a condition of one particular year, rather a lifetime habit.

(The photo above, of Naipaul's desk in his house in Salisbury, is from a series of images by Eamonn McCabe of "Writers' Rooms". The BBC posts a nice slideshow summarising the series, with audio commentary by the photographer.)

"Horse-trading and gamesmanship"

In his column in today's Newsday, Kevin Baldeosingh responds to the discussion about literary awards hosted by the CRB and the Commonwealth Writers' Prize last month. He draws on published comments by various Booker Prize judges to make the point that "there are no rigorous standards in literary judgements":

Last September, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Booker Prize, the London Guardian asked a judge from each year to give the inside story of how the winning book was chosen.... “The Booker has certainly mirrored fashion -- the collapse of the empire; post-modernist Victorian pastiche; New Age sentimentality,” one judge said. Another recalled: “The absurdity of the process was soon apparent: it is almost impossible to persuade someone else of the quality or poverty of a selected novel (a useful lesson in the limits of literary criticism).” And a third: “It stopped me thinking that literary prizes are about literary value. Even the most correct jury goes in for horse-trading and gamesmanship, and what emerges is a compromise.”

Which brings me to Ken Arrow, who won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1972. Although he got the prize for his “pioneering contributions to general economic equilibrium theory and welfare theory”, Arrow is best known for his 1948 impossibility theorem, which is a cornerstone of, not economics, but politics. Put simply, the theorem proves mathematically that any election based on “one person, one vote” is fair only when there are two candidates. Add a third or more, and it is likely that a candidate who is no one’s favourite will win. The theorem applies to many areas besides electoral voting, including literary prizes.

Baldeosingh is the author of three novels and a former CWP judge himself, so he writes on the subject of literary awards from an insider's perspective. He is also annoyed, it seems, that he was not a member of the discussion panel for the CRB/CWP event, though he was in the the audience:

The Commonwealth Foundation had commissioned a local publisher to arrange this forum. As the only Trinidadian who had served for three years as a judge on the Commonwealth Book Prize, including 1999 when Salman Rushdie was a finalist and made his first public appearance in India after the fatwa, you might think I’d be a logical choice for such a panel. But you’d be wrong. You see, these discussions require fluency in literary discourse, and I don’t speak twaddle....

Now it may be that the Trini literati don’t consider me a good writer; and it may be that they’re even right. But I have found most literary professionals (not readers) in this place to be persons of small mind and spiteful spirit. And if unprofessionalism so infects individuals on matters of art, where neither much money and even less power is at stake, imagine how much more pervasive the pettiness is in other arenas, such as politics or business. Far more than imperialism or colonialism or poverty, this is what keeps us Third World.

Your humble Antilles blogger, who after all helped organise the event, appears to be somehow implicated in this; so I will now end my twaddling and engage in contemplation of my alleged smallness of mind and spitefulness of spirit.

PS: If anyone knows where the Trini literati are to be found, do drop me a line--perhaps they will help fund the CRB.

Trini rugby star Cipriani gives back

The UK rugby star with Trini parentage Danny Cipriani has donated 15 pairs of Adidas rugby boots to membbers of the Rainbow Sports and Cultural Club in Trinidad.

The footwear will be officially presented on Sunday at the St. Mary's College grounds in Port of Spain during the Carib International 7s prizegiving ceremony by Deputy British High Commissioner Geoff Patton.

"I am delighted to be able to hand over the boots that Danny has donated to Rainbow Sport and Cultural Club. This generous gesture will strengthen the existing links between rugby in England, and in particular London Wasps, a club that I support, and T&T. I wish Rainbow Rugby well for next season," said Patton.

The England and London Wasps Rugby fly half Cipriani is a strong supporter of rugby development in T&T, his father Jay's homeland. Last July, Jay Cipriani and Debuty High Commissioner Patton were set to host a rugby coaching clinic, but a major injury forced Danny to cancel is trip. It was during his convalescence that the young star thought of donating the boots to the club. Last October, the Rainbow U 13 rugby team also visited England to compete in the Touraid tournament, where they were able to meet and train with Cipriani.

"Rugby has had such a positive effect on my life and given me amazing opportunities. It is a great team sport and I think that Rudolph Jack is doing an incredible job with the Rainbow Team in Trinidad. I hope that he can continue with this great work and wish everyone good luck with the Carib Beer International 7’s rugby tournament," said Cipriani.

Bonaire invites tourists to mind their carbon footprints

Bonaire has made a consistent commitment to sustainable development and preserving their natural environment, and this has extended to their tourism initiatives.

Earlier this year, STINAPA Bonaire (Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire) – a non-governmental, not for profit foundation commissioned by the island government to manage the protected Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) and Washington Slagbaai National Park (WSNP) – launched their waste reduction campaign "A Taste of Bonaire".

The campaign encourages visitors to take home their used batteries instead of disposing of them in Bonaire’s landfill, and also encourages visitors to fill reusable water bottles with tap water instead of purchasing bottled water and disposing of the empty plastic bottles in Bonaire’s landfill.

Hotels and other industry stakeholders in Bonaire have taken the initiative on board to encourage their guests and patrons to preseve the island's natural environment.

Bonaire is located 86 miles east of Aruba and forms one of the three Dutch Caribbean "ABC" islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). The island is particularly popular for suba diving and other watersports, as well as onland eco adventures and beach holidays.

The island has won the Island Magazine/Caribbean Tourism Organization 2008 Sustainable Tourism Award and continues to lead the region in sustainable tourism.

Eric Holder indeed nominated for Attorney General

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeAfter several weeks of speculation and buzz, United States President-elect Barack Obama officially announced his nomination for Attorney General: Caribbean-American lawyer, Eric Holder.

The 57-year-old, New York-born son of Barbadian parents is the first Caribbean-American to (once he is confirmed) to take up the position of Attorney General in the United States cabinet. He was also part of the team to vet and select Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

Obama met Holder a few years ago at an event, and had this to say of his new nominee: "[Holder] has the talent and commitment to succeed as Attorney General from his first day on the job, which is even more important in a transition that demands vigilance. He has distinguished himself as a prosecutor, a judge, and a senior official, and he is deeply familiar with the law enforcement challenges we face – from terrorism to counter-intelligence; from white collar crime to public corruption. Eric also has the combination of toughness and independence that we need at the Justice Department. Let me be clear: the Attorney General serves the American people and I have every expectation that Eric will protect our people, uphold the public trust, and adhere to our constitution."

In thanking Obama for the honour, Holder said his aim would be to forge policies that are "both protective and consistent with who we are as a nation." He also indicated that the department has a responsibility not only to protect the American people, but the American environment. Holder concluded: "There is much that needs to be done in this new century. I am confident that, working with our President-elect...those of both parties who I know and respect on Capitol Hill, we can keep our nation safe, strong and respected," he added.

When speaking to news outfit CaribWorldNews during the Democratic National Convention in August, Holder also hinted that an Obama administration would focus on the Caribbean to promote trade and combat illegal drug traffiking.

On Valmiki's Daughter

Trinidadian-Canadian Shani Mootoo's new novel, Valmiki's Daughter, was recently published in Canada; reviews have begun to appear in various newspapers and other media. A sampling:

If the premise of Shani Mootoo's latest novel wasn't so sad it might easily read as farce: A handful of gay spouses in a conservative community pretend to be straight, while their partners pretend not to know.

The action of Valmiki's Daughter unfolds in Trinidad among members of the urban, affluent Indian class whose ancestors climbed out of indentured service in the cane and cacao fields. With such dark memories coursing through their veins, it's no wonder they are prepared to sacrifice personal contentment to maintain their elite status.

-- Donna Bailey Nurse, writing in the Toronto Star.

The Valmiki of the title is Dr Valmiki Krishnu who lives with his wife Devika and their two daughters Viveka and Vashti in a very comfortable upper-middle-class neighbourhood. Valmiki appears to be a compulsive womanizer, with a well-established reputation. He is driven to such displays of infidelity because he needs to conceal the fact that he is really a closeted homosexual.

There is a deep sadness in the character; Mootoo presents his story with a very sympathetic tone. He knows that his wife knows about the women and the man who is his lover, although it is never discussed. And he knows that his daughter Viveka doesn't perform heterosexuality very well but his own guilt and shame prevent him stepping up and defending her difference. One of the central tensions in the story is that in the Krishnu's world, there is absolutely no way to even begin a discussion about queerness.

-- Maureen Phillips, writing on the website xtra.ca.

Valmiki is a terrible husband and father, but a great character, because as selfish and misguided as he is, it's impossible to condemn him. He's too well fleshed out. We know too much about his miserable situation. He'd rather die ("In the forest. Alone. Like a man.") than be caught out as a gay man in an unaccepting culture. It's clear that he makes mistakes, but it is also clear why he makes them. In that sense, this is very realistic fiction.

-- Anne Chudobiak, in the Montreal Gazette.