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Deputy Governor of Montserrat writes book about Lasana Sekou
October 26, 2007

Professor Sir Howard Fergus features book on St. Maartin writer

GREAT BAY, St. Martin:

Dr. Howard Fergus has written the first comprehensive and critical book about the poetry, fictions, and prose writing of the St. Martin author Lasana M. Sekou.

Love, Labor, Liberation in Lasana Sekou is the name of the 192-page book by Fergus, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). The University of St. Martin (USM) will host the book party for the new HNP title on November 3, 2007, at the Belair Health & Fitness Club.

in Lasana Sekou is the name of the 192-page book by Fergus, said Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). The University of St. Martin (USM) will host the book party for the new HNP title on November 3, 2007, at the Belair Health & Fitness Club.

"Very few authors and artists in the Caribbean get critical treatment of their work in book form and especially from someone like Dr. Fergus," said Rhoda Arrindell, instructor of English and literature at USM.

"We definitely don't have enough literary criticism on St. Martin literature. This book opens a whole new world for the general public, our teachers, thinkers, and especially students." Fergus is a literary critic and professor of Eastern Caribbean studies.

"Dr. Fergus makes the connections from Lasana's first book in 1978, when he was in high school, to his recent 37 poems published in 2005. He analyzes how Lasana has managed to develop the consistency of his love, labor, and liberation themes," said Arrindell, who is also language division head at USM.

Fergus does not make it easy for Sekou. He challenges positions that the poet has taken over the years. He explores deeper meanings of Sekou's writings and why the St. Martin author appears compelled to write about the things, people and places that he writes about, said Sample.

In Love, Labor, Liberation Fergus writes that: "With a message aimed at social and political change, Sekou will not make comfortable reading for everyone. What is important is that he remains polemical without being unduly preachy." Fergus has served as Deputy Governor of Montserrat since 1976.

"Dr. Fergus brings some unexpected insights into Lasana's work. We even get a peak into the mind and spirit of the man, down to the very types of women that he considers to be ‘beautiful'," said Arrindell. Fergus has published widely about history, education and poetry.

The book party for Love, Labor, Liberation is a cultural highlight of the 10^{th annual Eastern Caribbean Islands' Cultures Conference (ECI) - November 1 - 4, 2007.}

USM is the ECI host and a co-organizer with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and University of the West Indies (UWI). Professors and graduate students from UPR and UWI will be among those visiting St. Martin for the conference.

Dr. Fergus is also scheduled to be here for the conference and book launch book party for "Love Labor Liberation in Lasana Sekou" at the Belair Health & Fitness Club, Cay Hill (across from the St. Maarten Medical Center) on Saturday, November 3, 2007, at 8 p.m..

His books include Montserrat: History of a Caribbean Colony, History of Education in the British Leeward Islands 1838-1945, Lara Rains and Colonial Rites, and Volcano Verses. Dr. Fergus was the Speaker of the Montserrat Legislative Council (1974-2001). He has served as the resident tutor and head of the UWI School of Continuing Studies in Montserrat. Awards include the University Vice Chancellor's Award of Excellence and a knighthood (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth of England.