Show more appreciation for Dominican writers – Justice Dr. Irving Andre

Andre, sitting next to Sekou (extreme right) at opening of Book Fair

Accomplished author and jurist, Dominican Justice Dr. Irvin Andre, says he hopes that the Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair will serve as a catalyst in engendering greater appreciation for the arts and for the written word in Dominica.

Dr. Andre,  who resides in Canada, is a judge in the Ontario Court of Justice in that country. He has written several books about important people and events in Dominica. Some of his publications include Edward Oliver Leblanc and The Struggle to Transform DominicaH.E Franklyn Baron, In Search of Eden (co-authored with Gabriel Christian) and Distant Voices.

He told DNO after the opening of the 5th Nature Island Literary Festival and Book Fair on Friday, that, like in other parts of the world such as Latin American and India, where writers are revered, greater recognition should be given to the work of Dominican writers which could assist in building a sense of patriotism and individual sacrifice among Dominicans for the good of the nation.

“That needs to be nurtured and it seems to me that literature can play a significant role in that process and this is why I’m here today to be quite frank with you.” stated Andre.

Justice Andre said he was impressed with what he had seen and heard at opening of the Nature Island Festival and Book Fair.

“It’s been fantastic on account of those writers from overseas in attendance, fantastic on account of the presentation made by the illustrious George Lamming and certainly fantastic from the perspective of the number of persons- Dominicans who attended the opening session and if that’s an indication as to the support the festival will receive in the next two days, I think it’s wonderful”, he exclaimed.

Dr. Andre said he hopes the event “will receive the support it deserves” because “quite frankly, it may have the potential of making Dominicans define themselves in terms of literature, in terms of creative activity, in terms of a distinctive Dominican personality and it’s very encouraging as I said, to see people come across, inquire about books, purchase books, you know, show an interest in the arts and I think that is an essential component of mission.”

Eminent Caribbean novelist and poet, George Lamming delivered the main address at the opening of the book fair.

Dr. Andre is down to make a presentation on Saturday, at a workshop on publishing and to team up with leading writer in St. Martin, Lasana Sekou, to do readings from some of their publications.

The Dominican writer said he would focus on those books which speak to some “illustrious” Dominicans who have made significant contributions to the development of Dominica.

The Literary Festival and Book Fair continues until Sunday.

 

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22 Comments

  1. Nkrumah Kwame
    August 13, 2012

    Class mate “LAPIN”, you could not have said it better. Unfortunately, two generations will pass us by before your wish and mine comes to fruition. Just look at what we have in 2012 for THE NATIONAL LIBRARY!!

    And we have not yet learned; Individual success is based on Collective support. HOTEP.

  2. Anonymous
    August 13, 2012

    Portsmouth Again, Congratulations Dr. Andre!

  3. Possi Born/ NYC
    August 12, 2012

    CONGRATULATION MR.ANDRE..THE SON FROM HARBOR LANE PORTSMOUTH.

  4. misses green
    August 12, 2012

    :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  5. Anonymous
    August 12, 2012

    While a few try to promote reading the libraries here does not support reading. What I mean by this is – the government spend monies and get grants to upgrade everything except the library. Look at the library in Roseau, If Mr. Carnegie who donated that library came back alive he is going to meet the library just as he left it … after so many years they built a library in Portsmouth and the computers hardly works, always have problems, books are outdated and very limited resources, etc.

    The archives department is a mess in Roseau, materials are not properly protected and stored. I am blaming the government for that because they are not paying any attention to the library which is needed for the development of our students, researchers, scholars. Persons have to go to England to get information about Dominica.

  6. Pareidolia
    August 12, 2012

    ..Illiteracy in DA is kinda high…this has to be fixed before any real headway can be made towards the appreciation of local and/or global writers and their works. :(

  7. anonymous2
    August 11, 2012

    I wish Dr. Andre luck in trying to convince Dominicans to better themselves through reading and literature. You just have to look at the use of the library to understand the lack of interest by most Dominicans in general except for the students that need to use it.

  8. Interesting
    August 11, 2012

    But this is true what the Justice said, But how come I never heard our writers of the NDT, Theatre Pawol, Ian Jackson etc not showcase at these festival we always seem to go for outsiders and ignore own. It looks deliberate!!!!!??????? Inquiry minds want to know.

    • Kalinago Pride
      August 11, 2012

      You are clearly an example of someone who has not experienced the Festival. If is one thing I cannot stand is people judging what they have not experienced. Get off your tail and go down to the UWI’s yard and listen to the LOCAL talent featured.

      • Interesting
        August 13, 2012

        Interesting you are sending me there when I am there already in the rain and if it continues we go UWI u know what I am saying is true there is class thing going on in the Festival you are surely part of it running up and down the place We must stop that class thing our writers are people too show case them

  9. Pondera
    August 11, 2012

    Excellent jurist… Dr Andre gave an illustrious lecture at the Garraway Hotel. This presentation should be aired many times over by GIS and other media houses. Congratultions Dr Andre.

    • Shameless
      August 12, 2012

      Yep..thats my old teacher at SMA. His usal words were; “Minot this is simple, its just a matter of understanding”. LOL! I still crack up today whenever I hear or see the good old doctor/ jurist… :lol: :lol: :lol: What a humble son of the soil. Another teacher of mine Mr. Giftus John should also be highly recognized. Long live SMA and what it stood for….

      Assertive, NOT Agressive!

  10. Freethinker
    August 11, 2012

    Well-said. We need to create more of a culture of appreciating and studying the arts here. Thank goodness for the Lit Festival.

  11. Michael
    August 11, 2012

    Good to hear Dr.Andre on the festival. He is certainly right about the role of literature and the arts in defining a national personality.

  12. Reader
    August 11, 2012

    u r right doc. andre. ur comments is a reflection of the number of comments on the literary ook festival you see here. dno am i right or wrong??? :?: :(

  13. Irie I
    August 11, 2012

    We need to move from the colonial concepts of literary arts and embrace the local writers who depend on their own impressions and interpretations.

    • Freethinker
      August 12, 2012

      Nonsense. Writing is writing; art is art. You study the history of your craft by exposing yourself to it, and you compose what you know. No need to separate those two, and nothing but weak art usually results from deliberately refusing to study other artists.

  14. August 11, 2012

    who is this person….. and what has he written………….can somebody please tell me?

    • Avid
      August 11, 2012

      Are you kidding me? You are on a computer aren’t you? Google Dr. Andre in silence rather than prove to us all what an idiot you are.

    • Megso
      August 12, 2012

      Use Google

    • Lobby
      August 12, 2012

      You see what I mean they ignoring our own two play writers in Dominica Sham Shame Shame. Every year is outsiders they showcasing

    • August 12, 2012

      Take the time to read DNO and you will know who he is and some of the books he have written and stop being ignorant

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