St Lucia is renowned as the birthplace of 1992 Nobel Laureate for Literature Derek Walcott. There's even a bust of the literary giant in the Derek Walcott Square. The island, fondly dubbed the "Helen of the West Indies", was also the home of the late University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer Dr Patricia Ismond.
Ismond also had the distinction of examining Walcott's work in "Abandoning Dead Metaphors: The Caribbean Phase of Derek Walcott's Poetry".
As the Nobel Laureate celebrations for Walcott at UWI in St Augustine commenced yesterday, he unveiled a gift to UWI from the estate of Ismond. The piece was a painting of Gros Islet, which is located a short distance from Castries, St Lucia's capital. It took place at principal Prof Clement Sankat's office, UWI Campus. The launch also coincided with a launch of artwork from Walcott's family – his former wife Margaret Walcott and his daughters, UWI lecturer Elizabeth Walcott-Hackshaw, and Stan editor (UWI's magazine) Anna Walcott-Hardy. Pastoral scenes depicting horses at sunrise and musicians at play in "Country Fete" are highlighted in the collection.
Prior to the unveiling, an emotional Walcott did not deliver any feature address, but the emotion in his voice betrayed the thanks he had for UWI's recognition of his artistic and creative energies. A release said: "UWI honours Walcott on his 80th birthday by offering T&T four days of his work, including a special evening when he reads. UWI showcases Walcott's work and literature in an academic conference titled Interlocking Basins of a Globe. Happy birthday from UWI." Sankat said UWI was pleased to extend best wishes to Walcott –an octogenarian – and to preface the celebration of such an important milestone with the series of activities dedicated to Walcott. He said UWI was paying tribute to Walcott's contributions as a writer, dramatist, artist, critic and cultural and political commentator.