An emerging writer wins the 2004 Frank Collymore Literary Competition

First-time entrant, Yvonne Mary Selina Weekes, won the 2004  Frank Collymore Literary Competition sponsored by the Central  Bank of Barbados.

The winner from a list of nearly thirty Barbadian writers in this  annual competition sponsored by the Central Bank of Barbados,  Weekes received BDS$10,000 for her work, Volcano.

Well-known poet and English teacher, Esther Phillips, won the second prize of BDS$7,000 for her collection of poems, Nexus.  Another collection of poems, Prelude to the Dimensions of  Silence won the third prize of BDS$3,000 for Kerry André  Belgrave, who won a gold award in the 2004 National  Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) Literary  Competition.

The Prime Minister’s Award, sponsored by the Prime Minister’s  Office, was won by Reynold Colin Field.    The judges were also impressed with the work of Mark Jason  Welch, third prize winner in 2003; Sonia Williams; Christopher  White and Michael Gilkes. Each was accorded an honorable  mention.  The winners were presented with their prizes at an Awards  Ceremony in the Inner Courtyard of the Tom Adams Financial  Centre on January 8, 2005.  The Central Bank of Barbados established the Frank Collymore  Literary Endowment in 1998 to assist in the promotion of the  literary arts in Barbados.  Writers are encouraged to start preparing for the 2005 competition. Unpublished entries should be submitted to the  Chairman, Frank Collymore Literary Endowment Committee no  later than August 31, 2005. Queries may be directed to the  Chairman, Andy Taitt, at ataitt@sunbeach.net or Novaline  Brewster at nfbrewster@centralbank.org.bb.