So you with your shining eyes yes I expect you to change the world Who will stand up to negativity dishonesty and to every attempt to wrest that power of your personhood from you whether it is politician popular media or an abusive relationship

A distinguished panel comprising Education Consultant Dr Michael Alleyne school principal Ronald Sanchez and Caribbean Novelist Merle Hodge will discuss as part of Emancipation celebrations this year the youth and community intervention work spearheaded by former Poet Laureate of Port of Spain Eintou Pearl Springer

Former Poet Laureate Eintou Pearl Springer will be honoured for her contribution to our Oral Traditions as part of the Queens Hall celebration of its 50th Anniversary

In the last of the series on the National Poetry Festival we take you to the sourcethe pan yard A balmy Caribbean evening and the rustic openness of the Phase 11 Pan Yard provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of Poetry Music and Conscious Vibes

The Open Mike session at Corner Bar attracted an eclectic and often times very funny mix of amateur poets some of whom actually wrote new pieces to fit the theme of the Festival

Museums and Tourism is the theme set by the International Council of Museums ICOM for the celebration of International Museum Day this yearThe Idakeda team will once again end its Festival and Event Management skills to the National Museum to ensure that the launch is a success

This week we continue our retrospective of some of the highlights of the National Poetry FestivalPoets Spoken Word performers and Rapso artistes gathered under the thatched roof of the Carib Hut outside the Carib Centre in Arima that same night The readings were blessed by head of the Karina Community Ricardo Bharath who had opened his home and this space to us

Over the coming weeks we will share with you some of the wonderful moments highlights and photos from the recently concluded National Poetry Festival

The following is a statement sent to Devant Maharaj in response to a letter from him about East Indian involvement in the recently concluded National Poetry Festival The full text of Mr Maharajs letter is also included