Author Michael Anthony visits Marabella North Sec

STACY MOORE

For students of the Marabella North Secondary School studying the novel Green Days By the River, a dream came true yesterday when they got the chance to meet and chat with the book’s author Michael Anthony. Green Days By the River is one of the novels on the syllabus for the English B Caribbean Examination (CSEC) in 2018.

Also present were members of the cast of the recent film adaptation of the novel, Anand Lawkaran and Dara Healy. The film won best TT feature and people’s choice for best feature film narrative at the TT Film Festival (TTFF) this year. Yesterday’s event was hosted in the school’s library, which was filled to capacity with students from different forms eager to meet the author. Many could not contain their excitement as they expressed how thrilled they were to see the author of the novel they were studying.

One student said it would be a day she would not forget. “It feels like watching a movie and then you have the opportunity to meet the actor or actress from that movie, seeing Mr Anthony here feels something like that. We are so happy to get the opportunity to meet the man who wrote this book in person,” she told Newsday.

Students also got to ask the author and historian questions about the novel.

Speaking with Newsday, Anthony, who was born in Mayaro, said he was happy to meet with the students.

“Young people today need so much encouragement, and if my presence here and by speaking to them, can lead them on the right path, I am always willing,”Anthony said.

He advised the students to take their time to examine the book critically and read it thoroughly to be able to understand it and told them the excerpts from the book were events of life stories in Mayaro.

“The river referred to in the book is the Catura River in Mayaro,” he said.

Anthony later told Newsday he was disappointed in violence in schools, however, he strongly believed that with proper guidance children could return to the right path. “As adults, we have to reinforce values in our children. It is the only way.

Discipline must be a number one priority and we must teach our children that they can achieve but they must always be well disciplined.”

He said over the years the value system had broken down. “Students don’t have the right temperament towards those in authority and schools must emphasise values, respect and honesty.”

Anthony also had some words of advice for budding writers. “Stick with your work. You cannot expect to write once a month and see progress.

Take your work seriously. The more you write the more your own voice comes out.”