O’Marde launches novel: dubbed ‘Send Out You Hand’

Dorbrene O’Marde’s “Send Out You Hand” is exciting reading and mature thinking wrapped in a Caribbean flavour. Compelled to re-read immediately. This should be compulsory reading as the basis of regional thought, urgent dialogue and immediate action.” Cuthwin Lake, FRCS, Antigua and Barbuda.{{more}}

Well known throughout the region as a project consultant, cultural activist, calypso writer and judge, playwright, theatre producer and director, multi-talented Antiguan Dorbrene “Fatz” O’Marde has now added novelist to his already impressive list of credentials with the January 31 launch of his first novel, “Send Out You Hand”. As indicated by the protagonist, “Sen’ out you hand” is a Vincentian expression used for stopping buses; this takes on deeper significance as the novel’s title. Sub-titled “a contemporary Caribbean political love story,” the novel explores a plethora of political, business and personal relationships among its principal characters, who seek to forge a new mechanism for Caribbean unity.

As the characters interact within the setting of six countries, the author’s familiarity with and love for the topography, nuances of language, the political, social and cultural essence of the Caribbean, along with his passion for regionalism, are obvious. In addition to the central theme of Caribbean integration, the novel offers insights into topical Caribbean issues, including the environment and health, race and gender, love, sex and infidelity, Christianity and Rastafarianism, cricket and calypso, food and rum. According to O’Marde, as he addressed the audience at the launch, “the attempt in my writing is to at least lay the ground work for an exchange of ideas – the provision of a space wherein ideas can contest and contend – not for supremacy but for the production of more practical and better ideas…on and on.”

O’Marde’s entry into the genre of novel writing has evoked positive reviews: “In this his first novel, O’Marde joins the ranks of those undaunted Caribbean regionalists who use their unique writing skills to put forward a serious idea while keeping the reader thoroughly entertained. His language is rich and mature; his dream of ‘One Caribbean’ refreshingly pragmatic.” Alwin Bully, PhD, former UNESCO Adviser for Culture in the Caribbean, Dominica.

“To those of us who saw our parents shed tears in 1962 when 1-from10-left-nought’, those who have sprung from a union of different island peoples, who have experienced life in several of these lovely islands, ‘Send Out You Hand’ and its note of hope is like more than a breath of fresh air; it represents a call to rise above the narrow xenophobia that sometimes plagues us and to renew our commitment to the unity which is already expressed by the people but is yet to be realized by our leaders.” Franki Mwalimu Kwame Tafari / Franklin Francis, Antigua and Barbuda.

Dorbrene is married to Vincentian Ingrid (Williams) O’Marde. They have three children. The novel is expected to be available soon in St Vincent and the Grenadines.