JCDC recognises literary excellence

Chairman of the board of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Vivian Crawford, congratulates Gold Medalist in the JCDC 2001 Literary Arts Competition, Ms. Charmaine Morris. She won gold for her short story, 'My Man Marcus'. The ceremony was held at the Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus. - Contributed

WHEN THE judging was over, 62 entries in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Literary Arts Competition copped awards last Tuesday night. Winning entries were recognised in a ceremony held at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel.

The National Annual Literary Arts Awards Ceremony had a total of 382 entries submitted this year, with poetry standing tallest with 292 entries. There were 81 short stories, five novels, four plays and two essays.

The entries in this year's competition represented a decline in comparison to last year's total of 591 entries.

Of the 62 entries that were recognised, 17 poems were awarded certificates of merit or bronze and silver medals. One of the two essays was awarded a certificate of merit and three of the five novels received awards, while 41 short stories garnered from certificates of merit to gold medals.

No awards were given in the play category. Trevor Rhone, one of the judges in that segment, said most of the entries were written for radio and screen and one would have to be considered a junior play because of its length.

While the awardees waited for their prizes, the audience was kept alert with good entertainment from some of the entries. Erica Brown's Will and Christmas Greetings drew a lot of laughter. So did Michael Reckord's In The Beginning Was The Word and Natalie Gail Wilmot's The Healer.

The gold medal winning short story pieces Meeting Sam Sharpe and My Man Marcus were also entertaining. Meeting Sam Sharpe was about a brother and sister who went back in time to a gathering discussing Sam Sharpe's plan for a strike, which led to the Christmas Rebellion. My Man Marcus took the audience inside the experiences of a Jamaican girl who is in school in the United States and is given homework about Marcus Garvey -- who she knows little about.

Guest speaker, Harry Smith of Digicel, said the Literary Arts Competition was a refreshing change from the vulgarity of Sumfest. "We were disgusted by the vulgarity on-stage that took place at the event. We need to educate our children on the value of poetry, since it is an effective vehicle for instilling values," he said.

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