Writers are not suicide proof

Five years ago, during the month of October, Guyana lost an exceptional writer of children literature. Mohamed Yasin went out by the suicide route.

In 1955, almost six decades ago, Guyana lost its most famous novelist, Edgar Mittelholzer. He died by self-immolation – burning himself to death as foretold and described in his writings.
The death of Jean Amery was similar, in some ways, to the death of Mittelholzer in that Amery wrote a book on suicide and enacted his writing to the death.
Eric Roach of Trinidad and Tobago swam out to sea (Quinam Bay) to his death leaving behind a suicide note ‘Finis’ and a poem, ‘At Quinam Bay’, among other writings.
Other notable writers that have committed suicide included Ernest Hemingway, Anne Sexton, Virginia Wolfe and Sylvia Plath.
Writers are not suicide proof. But with all suicide cases there is help. One of the ways to help our writers is to show them more respect by recognising their work as work, properly rewarding them for their industry as a form of encouragement to continue producing.

In the short time, Mohamed Yasin spent in the literary world he made significant contribution to the literature of this country, to Caribbean Literature and Commonwealth Literature.
In 1999, his story, ‘Crabman,’ won a highly recommended prize from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association. That story is now on CD. It was no mean achievement to have two stories published in a Caribbean anthology. In 2008, two of his stories ‘Miss Angie’ and ‘Edward’s Lake’ were featured in the book, ‘Tek Mi Noh Tek Mih’, published by Carlong Publishers. Those two stories are now on CD. About the CD’s – it is no mean feat to have your written work sanctioned by recognised organisations and committed to another medium. What is significant about this is that Mohamed had achieved all that and more in a relative short period.
Mohamed Yasin at the time of his death was a relative newcomer to creative writing but that didn’t lessen his chances of getting to the top of his game. He approached writing at first as a hobby but later bitten by the creative bug and inspired by the muse, he strove zealously to put his house in order. He continued to read avidly especially the work of Caribbean writers including the work of David Dabydeen. Reading good literature is part of the preparation to be becoming a better writer. In 2001, Mohamed found himself in

Trinidad and Tobago attending a writers’ workshop conducted by the Cropper Foundation and the University of the West Indies Department of Festival and Creative Arts. To hone his skill, he conferred with other writers mainly through the defunct Association of Guyanese Writers and Artists (headed by Roopnandan Singh). He didn’t stop there; he put his work to the test by utilising the only publishing avenue available in Guyana, submitting his work year after year to The Guyana Annual magazine of which I am the editor. (He did what many emerging writers fail to do–put themselves to the test, avail themselves to criticism, market their work.) What happened? Year after year, he found himself on winner’s row but more importantly, year after year, his work was published. With his work being published locally year after year, he eventually gained a wedge in the Caribbean psyche, getting his work into regional newspapers and journals.
What is more significant about Yasin’s short writing career was the fact that he found the time and motivation to help other writers, pointing them in the direction of and reminding them of available literary competitions, many times creating the nexus between writers and editors/publishers, urging the writers to submit their work. He did all of this despite the fact it was a competition for limited publishing space.
In 1992, he published a collection of poems, ‘Brunt Sugar Cane,’ and in 2003, he published a novella, ‘Lost on Iguana Island.’ His work can be found in many local anthologies, and regional journals and newspapers.
Mohamed Yasin was a gifted writer of children literature. In his own words, he declared: “Most of my stories have strong moral themes for young people. They are based on social problems facing the youths of today. They are simple and easy to read. The plots unfold in a straightforward manner and the messages are clear. There is some humour and young people can identify with most of the characters. Some of the characters are very complex. They also cover the racial spectrum in the Caribbean. There is some stereotyping, but in a positive way. Ordinary people can see themselves reflected in the characters.”
Guyana and the Caribbean have lost a gifted writer of children literature at a time when such writers are a dying breed.

(Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email:oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)

(By Petamber Persaud)