By Fabiana Mcklmon
The Culture, Youth, and Sport Ministry revealed the winners of the prestigious Guyana Prize for Literature 2023 awards during a special ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.
The competition featured four categories: fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. In the fiction category, Michael Jordan’s “Girl in the Pink Pleated Skirt” secured the first-place prize, followed by Somnauth Narine’s “Rage from the Backwaters” in second place and Kennard Ramphal’s “Slippery Ochro” in third place.
For poetry, Ian McDonald claimed the Best Overall Book of Poetry award for “Not Quite Without a Moon,” while Ruth Osman received the award for Best First Book of Poetry for “All Made of Longing.” Sasenarine Persaud’s “Mattress Makers” took third place.
In the drama category, Harold Bascom’s “Unfounded” secured first place, Shaphan Hestick’s “With a Kisa” came in second, and Jamal La Rose’s “Requiem for the Living” secured third place.
Estherine Adams won first place in the non-fiction book category for “The Few Among the Many: Women’s Labour in British Guiana.”
Baytoram Ramharak’s “A Powerful Indian Voice: Alice Bhagwandai Singh; Reflections on Her Work in Guyana” secured second place, while Joanne Collins-Gonsalves’ “Iris De Freitas Brazao: Legal Luminary and Trailblazer” took third place.
Originally established in 1987 by former President Desmond Hoyte, the Guyana Prize for Literature was reinstated in 2022 by the PPP/C government after a hiatus during the APNU/AFC coalition’s term in office.
The relaunched prize features newer categories, features, and prizes, aiming to provide a comprehensive platform to recognize and promote local literature.