Guyana Prize for Literature
Johnson, Gilkes, Greaves come out on top
By Kim Lucas
Stabroek News
February 11, 2003
They walked the red carpet to the sound of a lone trumpeter at the National Cultural Centre in George-town on Sunday evening to accept the distinguished Guyana Prize for Literature 2002 awards.
Dr Michael Gilkes won for the second time in ten years for his book of poetry, Ruel Johnson, local underdog and one of the strongest critics of the very accolade bestowed upon him won for best first book of fiction, and Barbados-based Stanley Greaves, better known for his paintings, won for first book of poetry.
It was for many, another crowning moment in Guyana's beleaguered literary culture, as celebrated Guyanese writer Wilson Harris was awarded the Guyana Prize Special Award 2002 in absentia. Harris, who revolutionized fiction writing as he experimented with various forms, is best known for such works as 'Palace of the Peacock', 'The Waiting Room', 'The Four Banks of the River of Space' and 'Resurrection at Sorrow Hill' to name a few.
Johnson's 'Ariadne and Other Stories' (still in manuscript form) was adjudged the best work in the 'First Book of Fiction' category winning over 'Going Home and Other Tales', written by University of Guyana Arts Faculty Dean, Deryck Bernard and, 'The Timehrian' by overseas-based university lecturer Andrew Jefferson-Miles, who like renowned Guyanese author Wilson Harris, boldly experimented with shape and form in his novel.
According to the Chief Judge, Dr. Denise DeCaires-Narain, the most impressive thing about the 22-year-old Johnson's book was the care and attention each story had in its narrative. The stories reveal an author who is widely read, both in classical (as suggested by the title) and contemporary literature, and the work reflected a writer who shows great respect for the reader.
"There was a loving indebtedness to other writers," as he explored the theme of 'belonging', observed Dr. DeCaires-Narain.
For the judges, most of the texts were dynamic, exploring a wide range of subject matter as they painted a picture of contemporary Guyana. In the poetry category, for example, they found some works making a plea for racial unity, or, as in the case of Gilkes' collection, an evocative entreaty about a city and woman he fell in love with. It was found that the prize-winning 'Joanstown' took away some of the unpleasantness of the actual Jonestown mass suicide, for which Guyana is known. Gilkes won the award for 'Poetry' ahead of Fred D'Aguiar's 'Bloodlines' and Sasenarine Persaud's 'The Hungry Sailor'.
Johnson and Greaves were the two others who made the shortlists in the category of 'First Book of Poetry'. Johnson's collection, titled 'The Enormous Night', and Greaves's 'Horizons' were commended for the careful selection of words and imagery. But in the end, it was the artistic craftsmanship of Greaves that won over the panel.
Regrettably, no prizes were awarded in the categories of 'Best Book of Fiction' and 'Drama', although Arnold Itwaru's 'Home and Back', Churaumani Bissundyal's 'The Game of Kassaku', and Cyril Dabydeen's 'My Brahmin Days' came in for high mention.
"In light of the very high standards associated with the Guyana Prize, the judges felt that no entry stood out with sufficient distinction for a prize to be awarded. It was felt that the best among these had significant flaws despite their powerful evocation of the writers' concerns and their sometimes detailed and moving descriptions," the prize administrator had written.
In the category of 'Drama', plays written by Sociologist, Dr. George Ken Danns and Paloma Mohamed were described as containing many elements of merit, but as with fiction, the judges did not feel that they were of such a standard to warrant a prize.
Sunday night also commemorated the vision of the late former President Desmond Hoyte, who established the Prize in 1987, while he was Head of State.
"The Guyana Prize Management Committee and the nation were taken by surprise at the passing of former president, Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte. The Literary Committee would forever be indebted to Mr. Hoyte, for it was he who, in 1987, established the Guyana Prize for Literature," Dr. James Rose, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana told the audience before observing a minute of silence.
Rose pointed out that Mr. Hoyte recognized that apart from the basic everyday needs of ordinary men and women and their families, man's needs did not end there. "[He recognized that] the flowering of the intellect, the appreciation of beauty in literature and music and art, the development of man's creative imagination are important and must be treated as important."
Rose said the Prize committee would continue to preserve the all-important criteria for excellence. The members of the 2002 jury were: Chairwoman Dr. DeCaires-Narain, Senior Lecturer in English, University of Sussex, author and critic; and members Dr. John Barnie, prominent Welsh poet, performance poet and musician, Editor of the Planet, author and critic; Professor Edward Baugh, Public Orator, UWI, Mona, one of the Caribbean's leading poets and foremost authority on West Indian Literature, author and actor; and Dr. Adeola James, Head of English, University of Guyana, specialist on Women's Literature and African Literature, author and critic.
Each of the winners read some of their work at the National Cultural Centre. A cocktail reception at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel concluded the night's proceedings.
