Five of the winners in the 2007 regional Commonwealth writers prize take a moment to smile for our camera. From left are: Lloyd Jones, who won best book from New Zealand, Maxine Case, best first book from South Africa, Deni Bechard, best first book from Canada, Andrew O'Connor best first book from Australia, and Shaun Johnson, best book from South Africa. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

Cultural diversity was in the air as five Commonwealth writers were being honoured for their contribution to literature.

Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley and his wife Jo-Ann welcomed the writers with treats of Jamaican delicacies, the favourite of which was the stamp-and-go (saltfish fritters). The treat had broadcaster/actress Fae Ellington proclaiming her love of it.

Addressing the attendees, Kingsley stated that the Canadian High Commission was pleased to have assisted the Commonwealth Foundation.

"Beautiful literature is very important," he said.

Dr. Mark Collins, director of the Commonwealth Foundation thanked the High Commissioner, noting that cultures are the strengths of the Commonwealth. He also pledged the continued support of the Foundation to spread literacy values to all the countries of the Commonwealth.

Best books

Five of the eight writers who attended the function were: Maxine Case, who won best first book from Africa titled All We Have Left Unsaid and Shaun Johnson, who won best book called The Native Commissioner. From the South East Asia and South Pacific, Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones of New Zealand won best book, while best first book went to Andrew O'Connor for Tuvalu.

Best first book from Canada and the Caribbean went to Deni Bechard for his book Vandal Love.

Those who partied with the writers include The Most Honourable Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall and his wife The Most Honourable Rheima Hall, Edward Zacca, Stanley Dunwell, L.G. Reeson, Russell Merrifield, St. Kitts and Nevis' High Commissioner Cedrick Harper, Indian High Commissioner Kailish Argawal, Calabash's artistic director Colin Channer, Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Trinidadian High Commissioner Yvonne Gittens-Joseph, First Caribbean's Milton Brady, Sheila Graham, chief judge for the Commonwealth writers prize Nicholas Hasluck, Christine Prentice, judge for the South East Asia and South Pacific, and Nigerian High Commissioner, Chief Olufolajimi Akintola.

Deni Bechard (left), winner of the best first book prize from Canada and the Caribbean, speaks with founder and artistic director of Calabash, Colin Channer.

An artist in the making, who knows? But little Luna Johnson, daughter of Shaun Johnson, winner of the best book from South Africa, is a real cutie.

Governor-General The Most Honourable Professor Kenneth Hall (second right) shares a joke with Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley (second left), while Dr. Mark Collins (left), director of the Commonwealth Foundation, and Cedrick Harper, St. Kitts and Nevis' High Commissioner to Jamaica, look on.

Chief Olufolajimi Akintola, Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, is regally fashionable during the Canadian High Commissioner's reception for Commonwealth writers.