On a recent stopover in East Berbice, I was unable to visit all the ‘shrines’ once inhabited by writers that were products of that part of Guyana.  I used the word ‘shrines’ because that is how, in my world of books, I value the work of our writers especially our writers of imaginative literature. I used the word ‘shrines’ due to the enormous contribution some of those have made and continue to make to the shaping of Guyanese Literature. I used the word ‘shrines’ hoping others would show due respect to our writers and unremittingly support their ‘work’.

I shiver, a sort of ‘My Bones and my Flute’ shiver,  when I pass by the unmarked location where Edgar Mittelhozer once inhabited. Mittelholzer ushered in the Guyanese novel tradition with the publication in 1941 of his first novel, ‘CORENTYNE THUNDER’, going on to nurture and support that tradition into the 50s and 60s with the publication of his seven other Guyanese novels which included his best-known work, The Kaywana Trilogy.
On many occasions, on several locations, I had to refresh the minds of residents, both young and old, concerning writers from their localities.
But it was a pleasure reminding people of Beryl Gilroy. Of some of her books including ‘Frangipani House’ 1986, its sequel ‘Boy Sandwich’ 1989, ‘Stedman and Joanna’ and ‘Echoes and Voices’, both published in 1991, ‘Sunlight on Sweet Water’ 1994, and ‘In Praise of Love and Children’, ‘Gather the Faces’, ‘Inkle and Yarico’, all three published in 1996.
Of the literary and intellectual exploits  of Peter and Joseph Ruhomon.  Of C. E. J. Ramcharitar Lalla who produced the first anthology of Indian verse. Of  J. W. Chinapen who immortalised the village Albion in his only book ‘Albion Wilds’. Of  Wilson Harris who has so far produced over twenty novels. In 1987, Harris won the inaugural Guyana Prize for Literature in the fiction category for his first novel, ‘Palace of the Peacock’.
Sir Wilson Harris was recently knighted for his contribution to literature. Of Cyril Madray Kanhai who produced his first book in his own handwriting – italic handwriting which was very pleasing to the eye and other senses and sensibilities. Of Peter Kempadoo who is the first Guyanese of Indian ancestry to write a novel. That book, GUIANA BOY, was self-published in 1960 by a small press, New Literature (Publishing) Limited, founded by Kempadoo. Of Ivan Forester whom Martin Carter accessed this, ‘To be a poet is to be able to make a judgement. Faro is a poet’.  Forester passed away recently. Of N. E. Cameron who produced the country’s first anthology of poetry. Of Abdul-Rahaman Slade Hopkinson whose poetry found its way into significant publications like  ‘Focus’, ‘Bim’, ‘Caribbean Quarterly’, ‘Caribbean Voices’, ‘The Gleaner’, ‘Breaklight’, ‘Savacou’, ‘Commonwealth Poems of Today’ and ‘New Voices of the Commonwealth’. Of Arnold Itwaru whose first novel, ‘Shanti’ is called a modern classic.
Of Cyril Dabydeen who is a prolific writer of poems, short stories and novels.  After being shortlisted for the Guyana Prize of Literature on numerous occasions, Dabydeen won the prize in 2007. His poetry, short fiction and essays can be found in major literary publications around the world including Kaie, New World, Kyk-over-Al, The Caribbean Writer, Ariel, Exempla (W. Germany), Kunapipi (Australia), Kavya Bharati (India), World Literature Today, and Wasafiri. And it was a great achievement of his to have his work selected for significant anthologies including ‘The Penguin Book of Caribbean Verse’, ‘India in the Caribbean’, ‘Caribbean New Wave: Contemporary Short Stories’, ‘Companeros: Writings about Latin America’, ‘The Heinemann Book of Caribbean Verse’ and ‘The Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse’. Of Moses Nagamootoo whose novel, ‘Hendree’s Cure: Scenes from Madrasi Life in a New World’ explored the previously unmentioned mores of the Madrasi in Guyana and is described as ‘a libation to the Madrasi world of his youth’. Of Jan Lowe Shinebourne who made sugar plantation the backdrop of her novels, ‘Timepiece’ and ‘The Last English Plantation’.  Of Maggie Harris who won the Guyana Prize for her first book of poems, ‘Limbolands’. Of Elly Niland who won the Guyana Prize for the Best Book of Poetry in 2007.
Of David Dabydeen who has published three collections of poetry and six novels to date. Those works have brought him international attention and recognition mainly by way of winning numerous literary awards including The Commonwealth Poetry Prize, The Raja Rao Literary Prize (of India), the Anthony Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence for Arts and Letters and The Guyana Prize for Literature (on three occasions).
….of Parvati Persaud-Edwards…of Stephanie Bowry…Michael Duff…and many others both established and emerging writers….. (to be continued)
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