The Malliouhana Poetry Committee, the organisers of the Malliouhana Poetry Competition Anguilla, an initiative of The UWI Open Campus Anguilla, has created the Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs Poetry Award in memory of the late Minister of the Gospel and prolific writer.
The late Reverend loved words. He would often be heard exhorting, “not to take words lightly as they are powerful; calming an anxious heart or setting ablaze a dormant soul.” He has written and published numerous works over the years including poems, plays, biographies and hymns. In 1995, he was nominated a distinguished member of the International Society of Poets.
As an alumnus of UWI, he took a keen interest in the work of The UWI Open Campus Anguilla especially the Malliouhana Poetry Competition. Given his love of the written word, and his commitment to Malliouhana Poetry the committee thought it appropriate to have an award in his name.
During the recently held UWI Open Campus Anguilla and the Anguilla Country conference Emancipation Lecture, which was dedicated to the memory of Reverend Dr. Wycherley, a special offering was collected to go toward the award. The Committee is grateful for the generosity of the audience.
Malliouhana Poetry Anguilla will present the very first annual Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs Poetry Award at the Malliouhana Poetry Competition in 2021 DV.
– Press Release
September 30, 2020
