The winner of the 2020 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature is “Epiphaneia” by our very own, Richard Georges.
The announcement was made today, 2 May 2020, via live online video.
This is a major award for literary books by writers, touted the best prize for Caribbean literature. In an invited comment Richard Georges said “I am honored, humbled, and full of gratitude for having won this award. I could not be prouder to have been spotlighted alongside the excellent and iconic writers Edwidge Danticat and Tessa McWatt. This moment I see as a pivotal one for BVI literature to begin to take its rightful place in the Caribbean canon, and I look forward to using this opportunity to spotlight the work of my forebearers as well as younger newer voices.”
In this year’s competition, books were judged in three categories: poetry; fiction — both novels and collections of short stories; and literary non-fiction — including books of essays, biography and autobiography, history, current affairs, travel, and other genres, which demonstrate literary qualities and use literary techniques, regardless of subject matter.
There was a panel of three judges for each category, who determined category shortlists and winners. Richard won the initial category for Poetry. The three category winners were then judged by a panel of four judges — consisting of the chairs of the category panels and the prize chair — who determined the overall winner.
Now as a result of winning the overall competition, Richard has inherited a cash pot of US$10,000 while the category winners will receive awards of US$3,000.
Join us in congratulating Mr. Georges on this new accomplishment!
This is a testament to the thriving literary culture in the British Virgin Islands.