Teens: Alysha Carty, Rhonica Connor, Kymia Collins,
Savanah Croft & Sekani Reid
Juniors: Tegan Bibby, Camile Gumbs & Cyan Carty with L-R Ms Jansie Webster, Mrs Phyllis Fleming Banks and Ms Avon Carty 
Gina Brooks and Judah Christian unveiling plaque in honour of Sister Ijahnya Christian 
Adults: Ms Hyacinth Hughes, Mr Timothy Hodge, Mrs Yolande Hodge-Richardson, Mrs Cassilda Thomas-Brookes,
Ms Carol Matthew & Mr Alexis Ryan
Junior Winner – Soriah Alcindo
On the evening of Wednesday, May 27th, the Anguilla Public Library was the scene of the annual staging of the Malliouhana Poetry Competition (MPC). The original MPC took place in 2007. In the years that followed, there was somewhat of a hiatus but the event was revived in 2015 under the auspices of the University of the West Indies Open Campus.
The competition forms part of the Anguilla Day activities, and it was among a few of the features that were observed in low-keyed celebrations this year.
The MPC is organized by the University of the West Indies Open Campus Anguilla, in collaboration with the Anguilla Library Service, the Department of Youth and Culture and the Anguilla Community College. This year’s event paid homage to educator, culturist, and social activist, the late Ms. Ijahnya Christian, who passed away on April 27th, 2020.
The competition was attended by an appreciative crowd, in compliance with the social distancing protocol. During the programme, musical items were rendered by Corrine “Spracka” Richardson and Bankie Banks and the Roots Binghi Band was on hand to play special tributes to their mentor and friend, Ijahnya.
The exuberant tone set by the moderator, Dr. Phyllis Fleming Banks, was captivating, and the audience sat in admiration as each participant’s rendition was displayed. The MPC is made up of two categories: Poetry on the Page and Performance Poetry. Poetry on the Page featured three groups, namely: Juniors, Teens and Adults, while the Performance Category featured Teens and Adults only.
In Poetry on the Page for Juniors, first place winner was Soriah S. Alcindo with Today’s Gift; in second place was Tegan Bibby whose poem was entitled The Pandemic — How I Feel; and third place was taken by Cyan Carty with Fun Things in Anguilla.
In the Teens group, first place was won by Kymia J. Collins with Malliouhana; second place was won by Savannah Croft with The Grave; and third place saw a tie between Rhonica Ann Connor with The Cry of the Rolling Stone and Alysha Carty with The Words That Cursed Me.
For Poetry on the Page in the Adults group, first place winner was Yolande O. Hodge-Richardson whose poem was entitled Uh Shoudda Know; in second place was Hyacinth E Hughes with Life’s Roadmap; and in third place Cassilda Thomas-Brookes who wrote Star Gazer.
For the Performance Category, the Teens group’s first place winner was Kymia J. Collins with Our History; and second place was taken by Alysha Carty with My Insight. There was no third place winner in this group.
In the Performance Category’s Adults group, first place was taken by Timothy Hodge with his poem Virtual Reality, the Year of Uncertainty; in second place was Alexis S. Ryan with Ten Things I Have Learnt From This Pandemic; and in third place was Cassilda Thomas-Brookes whose poem was entitled Changing.
According to UWI’s Open Campus Country Manager, Mrs. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, this year the chosen theme was simply “2020”, and the MPC Committee received 27 submissions. She noted that this was a remarkable accomplishment for, despite all the stress and amidst certain inconveniences, there were still those who were interested in writing poetry. She thanked everyone who contributed to, and participated in, making the MPC 2020 a success.
- Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
