Designed to target young, emerging Guyanese writers, the Creative Writing Workshop for children is set to be conducted before the new school term begins.

Stemming out of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports Poetry and Short Story Competition, the workshop is intended to reach young writers within the school system. According to Mr. Petamber Persaud, the Competition is an idea sparked out of the Caribbean Press’s reprinting of rare Guyanese books.

He indicated that apart from focusing on past publications, the Caribbean Press will also be paying attention to emerging contemporary writers.
Persaud revealed that some entries submitted for the Poetry and short Story Competition will be used in the workshop.
He said, “It will be encouraging and promising for persons to be able to see their own work,” adding, “It will serve as an inspiration.”
He pointed out that there is limited space available for persons who are interested in participating in the workshop.
In addition to facilitator Ms. Elly Liland, who won the prize for the Best book of Poetry in 2006, Persaud said there will be other guest writers from the United Kingdom present at the workshops.
The creative writing workshop is just one of three components linked to the Poetry and Short Story Competition; there will also be performances of short listed entries and a publication of the outstanding works.
Mr. Persaud stressed that judging of the entries for the Poetry and Short Story competition will be done in England.
The Caribbean Publishing House was set up by the Government of Guyana which has pledged US$100,000 annually for the facility. It is the fulfillment of a pledge made by President Bharrat Jagdeo during Carifesta X, after an appeal was made by Professor David Dabydeen.
Formally established in May last year, the publishing house has since republished 11 books in the ‘Guyana Classics’ Series.