News Releases

UWI's Campus Literature Week Celebrates Caribbean Voices

For Release Upon Receipt - May 1, 2024

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. May 1, 2024 – The St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) came alive with literary fervour from March 11th to March 15th, 2024, as it played host to the 26th Annual Campus Literature Week. This literary celebration themed "Crafting Liberated Words", organized by the MFA Creative Writing Students in the  Department of Literary, Cultural & Communication Studies (DLCCS) of The UWI, showcased the vibrant narratives and voices of the Caribbean. Among the event's standout moments was the presence of cultural icon Machel Montano who shared insights into the role of calypso and soca music in preserving the oral tradition of Trinidad & Tobago, emphasizing the impact of personal narratives woven into his songs.

Throughout the week, students and attendees were treated to a variety of literary experiences, including in-person readings at the Alma Jordan Library and engaging discussions on the DLCCS website. These sessions shone the light on Caribbean writers, featuring celebrities like Tony Deyal, Jasmine Sealy and renowned actor, author, and storyteller Paul Keens Douglas who emphasized the transformative power of storytelling, urging writers not to shy away from using dialect to authentically capture the essence of Caribbean life.

Campus Literature Week always enjoys the support of local writers and this year was no exception. On Thursday (14th March) the readings in Alma Jordan Library were given by invited writers: Professor Emerita Barbara Lalla, Professor Emeritus Kenneth Ramchand, Celeste Mohammed, Ira Mathur and Judy Raymond who read from their work either fiction or non-fiction.

The week culminated in a Gala Event held at the Centre for Language Learning (CLL) Auditorium, in partnership with the NGC Bocas Lit Fest. Attendees were treated to a captivating contemporary dance performance by La Shaun Prescott, set to the poignant poem "The Door" by Halcyon Alexander-Prescott. Professor Merle Collins, this year's Writer in Residence, delivered an intriguing address titled "Oceanic Journeys in The Voices of Caribbean Literature," reflecting on the enduring significance of the ocean as a metaphor for Caribbean stories.

As Professor Collins stated, "Storytelling is a part of who we are as Caribbean people." This sentiment encapsulates the essence of Campus Literature Week 2024, which served as a vibrant celebration of Caribbean identity and heritage through the art of storytelling.

For those who missed the live events, recordings and highlights from Campus Literature Week 2024, including the closing ceremony, are available online at https://sta.uwi.edu/fhe/dlcc/news-events

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 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

 The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

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