Pakaraima confers inaugural award on Dr. Ian McDonald
Dr. Ian McDonald (centre) with award. From left are: Ken Singh, Pakaraima president Janet Naidu, vice-president Habeeb Alli, and executive director Shirley Najhram
Dr. Ian McDonald (centre) with award. From left are: Ken Singh, Pakaraima president Janet Naidu, vice-president Habeeb Alli, and executive director Shirley Najhram

By Frederick Halley

TORONTO, Canada — RENOWNED Guyanese novelist and poet Dr. Ian McDonald was last Saturday honoured by Pakaraima, the Guyanese Canadian Writers and Artists Association, at its 11th annual Literary Dinner and Social Evening, held at the Twilight Family Restaurant in Scarborough, Canada.The prestigious occasion, which was abuzz with entertaining readings from novels and short stories and poetry, saw Dr. McDonald, who was accompanied by his wife, being presented with the inaugural award “for his lifetime contribution to the field of literacy and arts (in) Guyana and the Caribbean.”

Describing the recognition as a complete and utter surprise, Dr. McDonald said: “It was a great privilege and honour to be acknowledged by whoever thought of the idea.”

Prior to receiving the award, Dr. McDonald, the slated Special Guest Reader, read from several of his collections of poems, including a few dedicated to his wife Mary Angela, whom he described as a remarkable woman and an inspiration. One of the poems also centred on former Guyana and West Indies star batsman Rohan Kanhai, whom Dr. McDonald still rates as the “best batsman I have seen.”

He recalled seeing Kanhai playing a masterclass innings versus Barbados at the world famous Bourda sward, and Dr. McDonald said he had called his father after the day’s play to inform him that he had seen the best batsman in the world. He said he still holds that conviction regarding Kanhai.

Dr. McDonald told the appreciative audience that poetry has been a very large part of his life, and this wasn’t merely by accident, since his ancestors — which included his mother, grand-mother and great-uncle — were all involved in the art form. He pointed out that his grand-mother, who was the first woman member of the House of Assembly in Antigua, had a gift for poetry, but, sadly enough, didn’t fulfill her desire.

Dr. McDonald also disclosed that his late mother had given him the first inkling of poetry with her singing of beautiful lullabies; and after lengthy consideration, he and his sister had decided to publish her memoirs which were written some fifty years ago.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago and educated at Queen’s Royal College, Dr. McDonald holds an Honours Degree in History from Cambridge University. He has published short stories and poetry collections, including Mercy Ward, Essequibo, Jaffo the Calypsonian, Between Silence and Silence, and The Comfort of All Things. His latest, River Dancer, is also expected to be published shortly.

Dr. McDonald has written extensively on cricket, and in 2005 delivered the inaugural lecture, entitled “Cricket: A hunger in the West Indian soul”, at the London Metropolitan University in the prestigious Frank Worrell Lecture Series.

In 2015, the Olympic Association of Geneva conferred Dr. McDonald with its Lifetime Award for distinction in sports and the arts. Dr McDonald is also recipient of the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA), and the Honorary Doctorate of Letters for services to sugar, sport and literature from the University of the West Indies.

Among the other authors who read their published works were Peter Jailall; president of Pakaraima, Janet Naidu; vice-president Habeeb Alli; Ramabai Spinet, Rabindranauth Maharaj, Rubyha McKenzie and Khalleel Mohamed.

One of Jailall’s poems was titled “Holidaying in Guyana”, while Habeeb Alli, who was born and raised in Enmore and is an alumni of Queen’s College, read from his latest book, Red Coconut – a tribute to his late mother. He also dedicated a collection of his poems to the children of Haiti.

The association derived its name from the famous mountain range that encircles the great Roraima mountain, shared by three South American nations: Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. The association consists of writers and poets who live in Canada and have published works on varied subjects. Membership is open to Canadian writers with this common heritage, and the goal is to create a space for writers to share their works and experiences, as well as receive information on writing and publishing.

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