(PRESS RELEASE) – The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College has been honored with the gift of Sir Derek Walcott’s Library. Ms. Sigrid Nama, partner of the late Sir Derek Walcott made the announcement at a short ceremony held at the Hunter J. François Library Reading Room at the College’s campus.
Ms. Nama said that she was pleased to honour Sir Derek’s wishes that his books on Caribbean Literature and poetry be donated to the Library and that it was a “very fitting place since he rests in peace on the very campus.”
Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, Chair of the National Nobel Laureate Committee, echoed those sentiments adding that the collection of Sir Dereck’s late brother, Roderick Walcott was a stone’s throw away at the UWI Open Campus also located at Morne Fortune.
The intention is to create a Reading Room named after Sir Dereck Walcott where students and the public can study, research and read for pleasure. Chair of the Board of Governors of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Mr. John Calixte, accepted the symbolic hand over of books to the College from Ms. Nama, pledging the College’s commitment to honour and carry on the Walcott name. He expressed his gratitude to Ms. Nama and Sir Derek’s family for what he described as a “most valuable donation’. “We understand the value of the collection that has been entrusted in our care. We see this as an investment in our people and our country,” Calixte said.
The symbolic presentation took place on Friday, 24th January 2020, after the Wreath Laying Ceremony for the two Nobel Laureates.
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