Prime Minister leaves Calabash with new books to read

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, in his first-ever visit to the Calabash International Literary Festival, commended the event for its “impressive” showcasing and reader-centric environment.

In a brief question and answer session with the organisers and members of the media on the Saturday, the second day of the festival, Dr Holness spoke glowingly of the segment with well-known and award-winning British author Ian McEwan.

McEwan, who won the 1998 Booker Prize for his novel, Amsterdam, took the stage for 'Reasonings presents a Conversation: Ian McEwan with Decca Aitkenhead'.

“I liked the intellectual exploration, [and] I liked the exposition and the language. And it’s good to have an opportunity to just sit back, with the sea rushing into the shores, with the wind blowing, with good people, to hear great minds discuss even simple topics, but with great profundity,” he said.

MORE READING NEEDED IN SOCIETY

“It leads you to a point of reflection that maybe more reading needs to be in our society,” the prime minister said, holding up a goodie bag of books. “Since I am here and I’ve gotten a few books, I may very well place them on my bedside and hopefully… get lost in it and have some fun.”

Dr Holness went on to share a passing conversation with McEwan, who had delivered the passionate showcase that kept him captivated.

“I find that authors have a very robust way of communicating. They have exercised their minds to a kind of refinement of thought that helps them to express ideas. And, when I listened to you, it was clear that your expressions are honed from long ruminations on subjects and topics that ordinarily people would not consider,” Dr Holness said to McEwan.

The two shared a laugh before the author signed a copy of his 17th book, Lessons, for the prime minister.

McEwan is one of four Booker Award winners slated to appear at this year's festival, including Michael Ondaatje, who won the 1992 Booker Prize for The English Patient; Marlon James, who won the 2015 Booker Prize for A Brief History of Seven Killings and Shehan Karunatilaka, who won the 2022 Booker Prize for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.

The three-day festival ends today with a musical tribute by the Calabash Acoustic Ensemble marking the 50th anniversary of Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey.

kenrick.morgan@gleanerjm.com