by Maia Chung
What do Erna Brodber, Afua Cooper, Velma Pollard , Olive Senior, Imani Tafari-Ama and Elizabeth Wilson have in common?
Well...they represent Jamaican female literary powerhouses, who have all very credibly earned the honour of being cited among the strongest literary voices; emanating from the Anglophone Caribbean at the present time.
They share another common factor, one more recent, that of all simultaneously attending the second in the series of Guadeloupe's Congress of Caribbean Writers staged in April this year between the sixth to ninth, in that country.
The conference is the second of its kind to be staged in Guadeloupe, which is located in the French or Lesser Antilles, and is a biennial event.
The conference's general theme was "Circumstances, Conditions and Issues of Literary Creation in the Caribbean".
Sponsored by Guadeloupe's Regional Council the project assembles writers, journalists and publishers as well as other literary personas, for the serious business of charting a way forward for the literary world of the Caribbean region.
It is particularly exciting as this way forward is not limited to English or even French speakers, even though these two languages dominate; but also Dutch and Spanish speakers as well. Making the conference truly an integrational gold mine of ideas which are collected, with the intent of advancing the region's literary agenda.
Guadeloupe which has approximately four hundred thousand inhabitants, is fortunate enough to be possessed of a State awareness honed enough, to recognise the importance of the literary products of the Caribbean and the very important need for the nurturing of these voices.
Importantly as well, doing its part in fostering a more effective and friendly relationship between the Anglophone and Francophone territories.
A relationship which both territories feel needs heavy duty improvement.
The Conference through its daily plenary and roundtable sessions, explored many relevant issues.
These included: "Towards a Literary Space Continuum. The Interrelations between Caribbean French, English, Spanish and Dutch speaking Literature".
"Literary Criticism: Nature, Status and Function in the Caribbean Literature Domains".
"Translatability of Works: Developing Bilingual Editions" and, "Reading Writing and Publishing, Editing in the Caribbean. The future of books."
In addressing the issue of the great divide presented between the Anglophone and Francophone territories, as it relates to the issue of the language barrier, Velma Pollard says even as literary output is evolving in both territories, the Caribbean overall - needs to assert more force in getting all territories inhabitants, to become more ofe with languages that exist outside of individuals' home countries.
This familiarity she feels must extend to as many of the languages that are being used throughout the region.
Ms. Pollard says, that at this time, a solution could be had if the region starts from scratch.
This she says will means convincing the CXC administration, to set a non-negotiable standard of having a foreign language, chosen from the many used in the various territories as a mandatory part of the curriculum at that level.
She feels a prime window existed, when Latin as a mandate was gotten rid of. It was then says Ms. Pollard that the insertion of one of the many languages used here should have been implemented as a replacement.
Erna Brodber's take is that, instead of seeing the language divide as a negative, a positive view should be taken as the West Indies has always been a polyglot.
Ms. Brodber says that the modern Caribbean, a multi-lingual geographic region - needs to re-establish more accessible modes to promote regional integration.
Citing the expensive nature of air travel, she feels that sea travel between the nations needs to be revisited made more affordable; to promote the youth populace's exploration and learning trips to various countries; with the view to sharpening their multi-language ability.
According to Brodber, the majority of Caribbean people , if one excludes the Spanish territories, speak a form of creole.She says this should be capitalised upon. She feels even as the borders created by language differences are tackled, the Polyglot which makes us who we are should never be abolished. As it makes the region what it is and influences who we are becoming in a positive way.
The borders caused by these various languages she feels, can be erased with proper planning between the regional governments - leading to greater interaction and cohesion, without losing the uniqueness of an individuals culture or language.
Afua Cooper who now resides in Canada and feels that there are advantages to the linguistic diversity.
She says that the territories are clustered according to roughly seven main languages.
Cooper posits that each cluster has a captive audience for literature and says that the Caribbean is a foundation for literary diversity; which is a positive when contextualised in the differences in languages which pervade. This must be a status which must be maintained.
Cooper says that to bridge the gap which now exists, firm action and political consistent political resolve will be needed to carry out such efforts as: sending students for a year or two for complete immersion in the cultures of other nations.
This she envisions must be as a part of a State led and guided effort towards the development of the region youth. However she adds that NGO, corporate support and parental and general citizenry support is needed, this will not be an issue resolved by Governments only.
She says the region needs visionary leadership throughout, to enact a lot of the import cross-fertilisation agendas, the region now needs to progress beyond where we are now.
Conference participants articulate that there is a need to heal the differences that have been established in the French, Dutch, Spanish and English Caribbean, as a part of any literary unity that will result.
Various parties agreed that there is a need now more than ever, especially when juxtaposed against the resurgence of the understanding by political powers of the need for unity in the region.
A unity which is now more valid than ever, as the Caribbean navigates the need for economic cohesiveness, to stand against the globalisation which is moving ever more rapidly.
Attendees and stakeholders agree that literary unity is one part of the general move towards the accomplishment of a greater overall unity.
Literary cohesiveness can, the authors believe - help in discovering other possible linkages obscured by the limitations of imposed languages.
It was generally conceded that knowing each other will remove the mask of mysteries, suggesting immense differences between Caribbean peoples - which conference goers overall feel are really not that vast.
Ms. Pollard says, while within the Caribbean our ways are different, there are many commonalities, which indicate that the paths to literary unity among others - can be easily navigated.
Citing the example of the female entrepreneurs known here as Higglers, and how over the decades they have navigated trade and opened up cooperation between diverse territories, without actually being fluent in the languages of the areas they trade in - Ms. Pollard says this again is harbinger of what can be accomplished.
Pollard feels that this is crucial example that what is being recommended, in terms is achievable.
Elizabeth Wilson says that we English speakers, need to get rid of the disdain we have for other languages and says we need to try harder to learn other languages.
Ms. Wilson who is fluent in French says that the suggestion by Pollard that the CXC mandate a language used in the region as a part of studies to help the development of a much more multi-lingual Caribbean; while seemingly more effective when lead by the various Ministries of Education - can be accomplished by by the schools themselves initially. If the will is present.
She says Campion College High School in Jamaica, is a great example of this with its re-introduction of instruction in Latin at that school in recent times.
She made the point that was not a CXC directive, it was a policy decision at the school board level and the students are receiving great benefits as a result.
Among the pertinent points raised, is the necessity for heightened efforts to translate works from English to French and vice versa.
This will go a long way towards exposing the brilliance and creations of the Caribbean literary worlds, divided by language barriers.
Author Merle Hodges of Trinidad and Tobago says however, that with no mandate to study languages of the region, at the college level, how can the Caribbean people be serious about breaking barriers?
So why is there a need to focus on these matters?
Well according to the writers participating at this most recent Guadelopuean Caribbean Writers Congress, the Caribbean has influenced global thought, ideas and philosophy through our writers for years. And the writer's place in any society is critical and must continually be improved.
Referencing the new identity forged from a variety of nationalities and ethnicity here in the region, those attending the conference say this new voice and new paradigm has and is even now still influencing the positive direction of global development.
Names like V.S. Naipaul, Derek Walcott, have taken the Caribbean culture and our reality to the state of Nobel recognition.
These authors and others such as Earl Lovelace and Claude McKay among others, have helped Caribbean people move forward in great ways- as their work has influenced some of the greatest minds of the world.
Literary issues are issue of communication, communication is living together.
And what could be more pertinent now than finding better ways to live together?
