Guyanese author Imam Baksh has won the 2015 Burt Award for Caribbean Literature for his debut novel “Children of the Spider”, according to the Trinidad Express.
According to the newspaper, the 23-year-old received the winning prize of CAN$10,000 at a gala ceremony held Friday evening at the Old Fire Station in Port of Spain.
Jamaican author Diana McCaulay and Trinidadian author Lynn Joseph placed second and third and received CAN$7000 and CAN$5000 respectively.
The Burt Award for Caribbean Literature was established by CODE—formerly Canadian Organisation for Development through Education—in collaboration with William (Bill) Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation. It recognises outstanding literary works for young adults written by Caribbean authors. It was part of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, a five-day literary festival celebrating Caribbean books, writers, writing, and ideas with readings, performances, workshops, discussions, film screenings, book signings, among other features.
In addition to the prize money, the authors will each be guaranteed purchase of a minimum of 2500 copies of their books which will ensure that thousands of youths across the Caribbean region will have access to the authors’ books.
Chief juror Debbie Jacob is quoted as saying, “The joy in choosing these three novels for the 2015 Burt Award is knowing that fans of young adult literature and Caribbean literature would be missing something deep inside their reading souls if they never had the opportunity to read these three novels that create a new foundation for bold, innovative writers to remember their roots and reach outward to new literary shores.”
“Children of the Spider”, which like the other wins is in manuscript form to be published, captures readers with the otherness of its world, its intrigue and mystery, the Lit Fest website raved.
Baksh said he will use part of his prize to further develop literature programmes in his community in Guyana.
“Part of the money will go back towards literature. I am happy that I won; it feels great,” Baksh said.
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