St. Lucia-born Derek Walcott, a true Renaissance man, was being remembered for many poems, plays, his Nobel Prize — and the lasting spotlight his many works shined on the Caribbean.
Institutions and individuals from around the world are paying tribute to Walcott, who died Friday at 87 in St. Lucia.
St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet said flags throughout the island would be lowered to half-staff to honor Walcott, one of the most renowned figures to emerge from the small country, reported The Associated Press.
“It is a great loss to Saint Lucia,” Chastanet said. “It is a great loss to the world.”
The Swedish Academy, which presents the Nobel Prize, cited the “great luminosity” of his writings, including the 1990 “Omeros,” a 64-chapter Caribbean epic that it praised as “majestic.” The versatile poet — a graduate of the University of the West Indies — received the Nobel in literature in 1992.
“In him, West Indian culture has found its great poet,” the Swedish academy said.
At 14, he published his first work, a 44-line poem called “1944,” in a local newspaper. While still in his teens, he self-published a collection of 25 poems.
Best known for his poetry, Walcott was also a prolific playwright, penning some 40 plays, including “Dream on Monkey Mountain” and “The Last Carnival,” and founding theaters such as the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre.
British writer Robert Graves said in 1984 that Walcott handled “English with a closer understanding of its inner magic than most — if not any — of his English-born contemporaries.”
Walcott, also an artist, taught at Boston University for many years, and divided his time between the U.S. and the Caribbean. He retired from teaching at Boston University in 2007, spending more of his time in St. Lucia.
SHE’S STILL IN THE KNOW — AT 103!
Antigua-born centenarian Helen Iris Crawford is going strong — enthusedand informed — as she prepares to celebrate her 103rd birthday on Tuesday.
“Still very much in the know” is how longtime family friend Mona Wyre Manigo describes Crawford, who is lovingly known as Ms. Iris or Mommie. “She still loves politics — hoping she would live long enough to see a woman become President of the United States,” said Manigo, president of the New York-based Antigua and Barbuda Progressive Society, who’ll be among family members and friends marking Crawford’s March 21 birthday.
Understandably, Crawford of Elmont, L.I., has been getting peppered with that question: What’s the secret to your longevity? Recently, she told the Antigua’s Daily Observer, “I take care of myself. That is why I lived so long,” noting the loving support she gets from her daughter, Elsa Brown, and others. Also in the Daily Observer article, she encouraged children to take good care of their parents in their senior years.
And in an interview on the Observer Radio with Darren Matthew Ward, she said faith in God, love of people and being kind to others are also contributors to her long life.
What’s entertaining for the centenarian? Crawford also likes going to malls, getting out to see movies and spending time with family and friends, Manigo said. She also listens to internet radio to keep up with happenings in Antigua and The Snake Pit with Serpent Algernon Watt” on Observer Radio is her favorite show.
TRIBUTE FOR LATE BORO PREZ HELEN MARSHALL
The late Queens Borough President Helen Marshall — the longtime public official who was the daughter of Guyanese immigrants — will be remembered today in a serivce in Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Blvd., starting at 3 p.m. Marshall died March 3. She was 87.
SHIPPING BIZ BOSS HONORED
Trinidad and Tobago-born Pamela Lindsay, owner of the Trinbago Express Shipping company, was one of the honorees at last Friday’s Shirley Chisholm Women of Excellence Awards, presented by State Sen. Jesse Hamilton. Lindsay was the recipient of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award.
TIME FOR ‘DINE IN’ BROOKLYN
Hungry? The 2017 edition of the “Dine In Brooklyn” restaurant event starts tomorrow and runs through March 30, offering discounts at more than 60 Brooklyn eateries including establishments with Caribbean cuisine and drinks.
Crown Heights’ Milk River, Kelso Bistro Bar & Restaurant, Brooklyn Exposure, and Brooklyn Exposure; “Sip unWine” in Ditmas Park; “Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine in Clinton Hill; “Suede Modern Caribbean Food” in Flatbush, Amarachi Restaurant in downtown Brooklyn; and BK9 and Hooked on 12th in Park Slope are among the participating businesses. Visit www.dineinbk.com for more on Dine In Brooklyn, sponsored exclusively by Visa.
ST. MAARTEN’S ‘NEW’ HOTEL
Owners and staff of the popular Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa, St. Maarten are eagerly welcoming visitors to their resort, which is now the first Marriott International affiliated property in St. Maarten/St. Martin.
After Marriott International completed the $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide last September, Westin Dawn Beach Resort became a part of the Marriott family.
As a Marriott property, Marriott Reward Members can transfer their Marriott Reward Points to an existing or newly opened Starwood Preferred Guest membership and redeem their points at the 341-room hillside Westin Dawn Beach Resort, owned by the Babitbay Beach Development firm.
“We are looking forward to all Marriott Rewards members having access to our beautiful resort which is situated along the south-eastern shore of the Dutch side of the island, and just minutes from the Princess Julianna Airport,” said Sabrina Lawrence, reservations manager for Westin Dawn Beach.
Westin Dawn Beach Resort features a full-service European-style Hibiscus spa, an on-site casino, the largest infinity pool on the island, three oceanfront restaurants, and a branch of the island’s popular St. Maarten Carousel Gelater Bar.
Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest members will be able to link their accounts from both programs at members.marriott.com. Get more information by visiting www.westin.com\\stmaarten and the resort’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/westin.dawnbeach.
CORRECTION
An item in last week’s print version of Caribbeat wrongly stated that “Brooklyn is Africa” exhibit curators Eric Edwards and Hollis King are related. The News regrets the error.