‘Were Mama’s Tears in Vain?’ to launch Tuesday

14.DEC.07

The long-awaited historical novel “Were Mama’s Tears in Vain?”, authored by Vincentian Dr. Richard Byron-Cox, will be officially launched next Tuesday, 18th December, at the Peace Memorial Hall in Kingstown.{{more}}

The event, entitled “A Toast to Freedom”, will be held under distinguished patronage of Governor-General His Excellency Sir Frederick and Lady Ballantyne, and will be chaired by business leader Ken Boyea.

René Baptise and Girlyn Miguel, Ministers of Culture and Education, respectively, will address the function, while the Leader of the Opposition, Arnhim Eustace, will officially unveil the book.

Other persons scheduled to address the event include former Attorney General Parnel Campbell Q.C., and former Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba and onetime Cuban Ambassador to the UN, Oscar Oramas Oliva. The keynote address will be delivered by Barrister at Law and Chairman of the Reparations Committee, Jomo Thomas.

The author, an international law specialist and trained diplomat, explains that the launching of the book is but a small part of the exercise which is also aimed at celebrating the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and the role of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in promoting the idea of the need for this bicentenary to be recognised at the international level. The book is also dedicated to the late Earlene Horne, Renwick Rose, Oscar Allen and Cuban President, Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz for their contributions to the liberation and development of black people, and, renewing our people’s faith in the future.

The event will hear a short reading from the book, see presentations of autographed copies of the same being made to Oscar Allen and Renrick Rose, to the family of the late Earlene Horne, and to resident Cuban Ambassador Her Excellency, Olga Chamero Trias who will accept the book on behalf of Cuban President, Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz. The event will climax with a toast to freedom to be offered by Governor-General His Excellency Sir Frederick and Lady Ballantyne.

The general public is invited to the event where they will be able to purchase the book and have the same signed by the author. The book will be sold at EC$75 and can also be bought via Internet at: http://www.trafford.com.

It will soon be listed on Amazon and other book sites and will also soon be available at Aunt Jobe’s Supermarket and Gaymes Book Store or can be ordered through other local bookstores or through local agent, Jomo Thomas, at Jomo Thomas’ law office in the Hinds Building Kingstown.