Writers Union honours Chen

Willi Chen is an award winning poet, dramatist, sculptor and short story writer among other things.

Chen said that although he was proud of the Soca Warriors and their achievement he understood that they would get a million dollars, while art and culture get nothing. He also brought his attention to the Trinity Cross situation. “We must respect one another’s religion and build a bond with each other, by doing that there would be no need for cameras and guns in our society,” he said.

President of WUTT, Dr Marina Ama Omowale Maxwell, extended thanks to Chen “for the art and elegance” he has brought to the country. “Willi more than lives up to artist extradonaire, he has brought imagination to the scene and with this he says to us all that we are capable of doing something great,” she said. Maxwell described Chen’s writing as full of humour and filled with metaphors. She did express one concern, though “It is very interesting to see that entertainers are being recognised and not artists.”

James Leewah, out of the San Fernando Theatre Workshop, said what makes Chen seem out of the ordinary is what we should be celebrating. “His contribution to his community is remarkable. From ‘Freedom Road’ to ‘Tainted Blood,’1 Willi Chen’s work would live on,” he said. Torrence Mohammed, from the San Fernando Arts Council, described Chen as an amazing family oriented person. “He is a man who has made a significant contribution to Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.