Bocas Lit heads to South, Central

Beginning in San Fernando where, 90 years ago the literary pioneer Samuel Selvon was born, and ending in Chaguanas, the home of VS Naipaul’s legendary Mr Biswas, the inaugural NGC Bocas South Central will feature a diverse collection of readings by talented local writers. On a more intimate scale than the annual NGC Bocas Lit Fest, these activities will be centred in two local bookshops - RIK Services Ltd in Gulf City Mall, La Romaine, and Nigel R Khan Booksellers in Mid Centre Mall, Chaguanas.

Starting at 10.15am, the opening event on November 16 at RIK Services Ltd pays tribute to the diversity and rich literary heritage of south Trinidad in a series of readings from classic literature that paint a portrait of South through the decades. Some of the country’s best spoken word artists from the popular 2 Cents Movement will enliven the Gulf City Mall atrium with a lunchtime jam session before the programme moves to its afternoon venue, Nigel R Khan Booksellers in Mid Centre Mall at 3.00pm.

There, the finale event will feature the work of our own Nobel Laureate, read by his sister Savi Naipaul Akal, and Ken Ramchand will read from Sam Selvon. A showcase of new, upcoming local poets will include Newsday’s Andre Bagoo.

All readings are free and open to the public, and the writers will be available to answer audience questions and sign books.

The second day of Bocas South Central, Sunday, November 17, will focus on emerging writing talent with a series of writing workshops in fiction and life writing/ non-fiction. There will also be a fiction-writing workshop specifically for young aspiring writers aged 14 to 17. All workshops will be held at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts in collaboration with UTT. The South Central literary festival is sponsored by The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

To view the festival programme and to register for writing workshops visit www.bocaslitfest.com, email info@bocaslitfest.com, or telephone 222-7099.