Sunday evening, November 17, was described by an appreciative audience as a delightful time spent with members of the Anguilla Underground Poetry Club at The Valley Bistro.
The club largely comprises a group of talented young men and young women desirous of expressing themselves in social commentary poetry. They have been meeting somewhat privately – hence the name underground – but, according to one commentator, “they have now become above ground” with public appearances. The blossoming poets are being facilitated by Josveek Huligar, owner and host provider of Anguilla Access, who is being highly commended for his assistance to the club.
The enjoyable event was chaired by Dr O M Linda Banks, one of the adult poets. The caste for the evening of poetry and their poems comprised the following: Tristan Christopher: I am no gangster; Keanu Belle: What’s a Home and The picture is still Perfect; Julian Hodge: Strength of a Woman (written by Maus Mariner), Feel Free, Battle of the Mind and LOVE; Clemvio Hodge: What colours do my words Paint, Street Life, Where I Came, The eclipse of Love, Circle yes or No and Being Played; Natalia Welcome: My Anguilla Poem; Jemmisa Graneau Gumbs: For Want of Love, Facebook my Love; Sweet Serendipity and Do you really Love; Alexis Ryan: Love Personified, Perfection, Self Preservation, Half the world is starving and the other half is trying to lose Weight; Omando Hodge: Monogamy, Black women’s Poetry, Female Assassin, Peace Treaty and Anguilla; Oluwakemi Linda Banks: Sweet Release; Real Women, Anguilla, She had to Go and Royalty.
The poets will be appearing during Lit Fest in Anguilla in May next year. Josveek Huligar, a multi-talented young man with a keen interest in media (as shown by Anguilla Access), spoke about the Anguilla Underground Poetry Club: “Basically, it is just another platform for the poet artistes in Anguilla,” he explained. “It is an opportunity of exposure for them. A lot of people say we have singers, actors and writers but in reality these artistes…have no avenue to express themselves. What I do for others is something that I can’t do for myself. We all have some kind of skill…so I create little platforms. We do recitals every month but once a year we have a finale around the time of the Lit Fest – piggy-backing on that event.
“Every month we move from one location to another, bringing exposure to the places where the poetry is performed. A lot of people do not know where some of these places are, so we are exposing the businesses to the people and the people to the businesses as well as to the arts.”
According to Huligar, Anguilla Access is the brand name for his tour company which markets Anguilla and its cultural heritage. “That actually supports all the ideas I have. I am basically funnelling my money through the company to do projects like this which makes us a non-profit organisation,” he stated.
One of Huligar’s skills is Stone Restoration. “The most well-known project I have done is the Freedom Stone for the World Trade Centre in New York,” he surprisingly disclosed. He is not only regarded there as a famous Stone Restoration Technician, but as an Instructor and Consultant in the art form as well. “The stone class I run takes place in New York every two months,” he said. “It is about 1800 dollars to attend and we can accommodate up to fifteen people. It is all hands-on work in the class. There is no real theory and students get all the tools they need. They can leave the class, go across the street and make their money back for the class. We provide education as well as the tools for them.”
In Anguilla, the unassuming and quiet Josveek Huligar is providing the platform tool for the Underground Poetry Club, by giving young artistes much exposure to the stage,as well as provide great entertainment for large and appreciative audiences.
