Guyana Prize for Literature returns with renewed purpose

The Guyana Prize for Literature made its highly anticipated return on Friday evening with an intimate, formal awards ceremony hosted at the Pegasus Corporate Building in Kingston, Georgetown.

Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Mark Phillips acknowledged the prize’s historic legacy and its renewed direction. In a light-hearted moment, he quipped, “We’ve set another record; finishing before 10:30 p.m.” to the amusement of those gathered.

The Prime Minister reflected on the challenges the prize faced in recent years, particularly in 2017 when a public call for submissions was issued but no awards ceremony followed. Dozens of entries were submitted by both emerging and established writers, poets and fiction authors — many of whom, especially those residing in Guyana, had to invest in producing six printed copies of their manuscripts.

“To have made that level of personal and financial investment, only for it to go unacknowledged — I can only imagine how disappointing and devastating that must have been,” Phillips said.

The prize was not awarded in 2018 or 2019 but has since been restructured and revitalised. Among the most significant changes is the decision to host the awards annually instead of biennially, creating more frequent opportunities for literary recognition.

In addition, the award categories have been expanded to reflect a wider range of genres and talents, including the introduction of a Youth Category aimed at nurturing the next generation of writers. Keeping pace with technological progress, the submission process has also moved online, removing previous barriers related to cost and access.

“Literature is a pillar of our national heritage, and preserving it is essential,” the Prime Minister emphasised. He noted that in two years, the Guyana Prize will mark its 40th anniversary — a significant milestone in the country’s cultural and literary history.

He closed his address by congratulating all those who submitted entries, saying: “Thank you for being part of this wonderful celebration of Guyanese creativity.”

By Deandra Daniels