Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Former prime minister Edward Seaga will get a chance to read excerpts from his colourful and fascinating memoirs; author Anthony Winkler can worship the spoken word, and lovers of the literary arts have permission to salivate in a brotherhood of cultures.

The Caribbean's first annual international literary festival, Calabash, has risen from its slumber with an injection of US$40,000 from the Ministry of Tourism, Minister Edmund Bartlett told The Sunday Gleaner.

The not-for-profit festival that has delivered some of the greatest writers, musicians, playwrights and film-makers in the world at one venue, Jamaica's Treasure Beach, for free, was cancelled suddenly last Thursday, creating shock waves throughout the industry. The event was cancelled due to a lack of funding.

Adjustments to budget

"I have always wanted to be at this event and I was disappointed that it was cancelled, but it had nothing to do with the fact that I am presenting parts of my memoirs. I want to be there to see other writers," Seaga said.

And even before he knew that Bartlett had approved the full amount of sponsorship money that the organisers of Calabash needed, Mr Seaga vouched for the tourism minister.

"Bartlett is aware that it's the only artistic venture of its kind," he asserted.

And he couldn't have been more correct, as Bartlett told The Sunday Gleaner he was forced to reconsider the amount of money given to the festival while making adjustments to his events-marketing budget. He said he wanted to ensure there would be no fallout in tourism on the south coast.

"We would really not want to see the festival not happen," he admitted, noting that the Ministry of Tourism's budget was very challenged by the current economic situation. "But I understand the importance of the artistic, creative and literary value that the event brings."

Writers' disappointment

A cancellation of the ninth annual festival was greeted with disappointment by writers.

Renowned writers, such as Winkler, said he understands the pressure of the economy and realised that the piper won't, and can't, pipe unless he's paid.

Winkler philosophically described the importance of Calabash saying:

"The fact that you were able to create and sustain a literary festival in a Third World country known for its worship of the spoken word, along with its overly unctuous kissing up to the written one, is little short of miraculous, and if you never do anything of this kind again, you are still to be heartily congratulated on an achievement that is as stupendous as it was unlikely. Calabash taught us many lessons, some of which I have still not completely absorbed, and I took away from the experience much more than I contributed, for which I now say thanks."

With poetic seduction, author Patricia Smith wrote of Calabash:

"If you can ignore the fact that it IS actually paradise, that the breezes and waves won't stop their languid seduction and the people won't stop becoming a sudden circle of family, you'll begin to see the real heart of Calabash - an unbridled and unapologetic love of the language, of all the languages, and their strength to move mind and mountains. Calabash is a place of no preconceived notions, no deception or sleight of hand, no rash judgements or set expectations. It is a joyous celebration of word, and of the community word creates. It's a place of shared passion, blessed by an unrelenting sun."

From May 22 to 24, a staggering line-up of authors, including South African Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, 2008 Pultizer Prize winner Junot Diaz, United States poet laureate Robert Pinsky, Jamaica Kincaid and George Lamming will converge on the south coast.

Commitment

An excited Justine Henzell, an organiser of the festival, said now Calabash can continue doing what it does best.

"Our commitment to our mission remains the same - transforming the literary arts in the Caribbean by being the region's best-managed producer of workshops, seminars and performances, and we look forward to welcoming all lovers of the literary arts to Treasure Beach," she said.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com