I was born in Curacao and raised in St. Martin, both Caribbean territories administered by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In 1985, I began my university studies at the University of Miami and in 1989 graduated from Syracuse University in New York with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics. That year, I returned home and was employed at the University of St. Martin, coordinating the English-as-a-Second Language program and teaching English. Read More
The third and final day of the literary festival will be a packed one.
Following the 10AM Book launch of Sir Howard Fergus & Ian Gerald’s new books, will be the children’s book party and fun day for new projects by Montserratian author Roydenn Silcott and Trinidad & Tobago’s Coryn Anaya Clarke. Read More
Children seven to 14 are invited to write a short poem about reducing pollution in Montserrat.
This is a collaboration with the Department of Environment, within the Ministry of Agriculture.
The 14th edition of Montserrat’s Alliouagana Festival of the Word returns in November with a focus on children’s literature and language as protest and for nation building. Read More
Coryn Anaya Clarke is a little girl with big dreams. At just seven years old, she has already been written into the history books of her country as the youngest published author in Trinidad and Tobago.
Her first book Chronicles of Coryn: 7 Days of Fun, was written and published in 2020 when she was just four years old. It was named one of
the most popular children’s books in the world. Read More
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory’s Creative Writing Competition is back this year.
Open for children and adults with cash prizes for the top two winners in each age category.
Write a short story addressing the theme “Life Can Be Explosive.”
Laurian Brand’s short story was adjudged the best entry in the Department of Environment’s AFW LitFest competition.
Read about Mounty the mountain chicken and his first adventure. We really hope Mounty goes on to have more adventures.
Mounty’s First Adventure
Mounty hopped with glee. The cool water from Boo Boo Pond was refreshing and swimming was this little Mountain Chicken’s favourite activity on a hot day.
His long legs stretched as he leapt along the broad mossy leaves of the old cedar tree. The mountain breeze dried Mounty’s wet glistening skin as he settled on a bed of roots to dream and wonder about leaving the majestic mountain on which he lived. He was only seven weeks old and his bumpy brown leathery skin had shiny black spots that sparkled like black opals. Mounty was not a chicken, he was a frog but his long, long legs allowed him to spring higher than any frog, higher than you could imagine. Mountain Chickens were hunted so Mounty had to be quick to stay alive.
He was alone in the mountains. His family had been taken one by one by the giant creatures with the loud stomping walks and long ugly boots. First, it was his mum and dad, then it was his brothers Clucky and Froggy and lastly his sister Mousy. Luckily, Mounty was the best at hide and seek and the giant creatures never found him. Mounty was lonely and often cried for his family; he was the youngest and couldn’t understand why they left him. His friends Toad, Birdy and Bunny played with him but he missed his family so much and often talked to the white ball in the sky when evening came, hoping it would grant him a wish. The little shining lights up high reminded him of bugs with their lights on their backs and he would fall asleep dreaming of family, friends and food.
Mounty had seen tall structures coming out of the ground far away when he had gone to the very top of Old Cedar. There were thousands of bugs moving around and moving in carts, they looked like families except he wasn’t sure they were bugs since their bodies looked a little strange and they never flew in the air. He hoped they were bugs though because they were his favourite treat. Mounty dreamed of a day when he could wander into this bug village and eat and eat and eat. His long pink tongue flicked in the air as he thought of the yummy, delicious bugs. Smilingly, Mounty fell into a deep, long sleep while the chirping crickets played his favourite bedtime song. Read More
The Alphonsus Cassell Foundation has begun plans to establish a museum in Montserrat, to recognize the legacy of the late soca king of the world and the island’s third national hero.
During last Friday’s AFW LitFest’s Alphonsus “Arrow” Cassell Memorial Lecture Series panel discussion, son Sawandi Cassell revealed that a non-profit foundation has been established to preserve their father’s music legacy.
Cassell was speaking during a discussion led by Head of The UWI Open Campus Montserrat Gracelyn Cassell on Preserving & Expanding Arrow’s Cultural Legacy. The panel also featured, Author Andrew Skerritt and Lawyer Warren Cassell.
The Montserrat National Trust is said to be working with the heirs of Arrow to set up the museum, which is to be located at the former Arrow’s Manshop in Davy Hill. Arrow’s second son, Sawandi explained that the location was chosen because of its accessibility. “Whether coming or leaving Montserrat, you must pass the shop,” he explained. There are also land covenant and access issues related to placing the museum where Arrow is currently buried at his home in Lime Kiln.
“We want to ensure the legacy of Arrow remains and we want the people of Montserrat to hold us accountable,” Sawandi said. “Arrow’s first love was Montserrat.”
Arrow’s son said his father had an epiphany. While he loved the social commentary and political topics which were prevalent in the popular calypso he sang, he wanted to make music the entire world could enjoy. His switch from calypso to soca, was the vehicle that he felt could do this. Read More
The Governor’s Office Presents Good Night Montserrat.
#AFWLitFest is brought to you by the Montserrat Arts Council, Goldenmedia, Governor’s Office, Digicel, Montserrat Public Library, Department of Environment, St. Patrick’s Cooperative Credit Union, and Friends of AFW LitFest.
For entertainment purposes only. Read More