Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

(From left) Former Miss World and songstress Cindy Breakspeare, Kwame Dawes, Pat Ramsey, Peter Bunting and Professor Barry Chevannes take a bow after the reading of V.S. Naipaul's comic novel, 'Seers and Obeahmen are Welcome', at the Calabash Festival held at Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth from Friday, May 25 to Sunday, May 27. - Photo by Yahneake Sterling

Not even the rain that fell on the second day of the three-day Calabash Literary Festival could stop the throng of people who turned out to hear prize-winning novels and poems read by international authors and poets.

Calabash Bay in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, had come alive once again with lovers of the literary arts.

Almost all who were gathered were clad in earth tones, and colours that reflected mother nature. The phrase 'country come to town' was reversed on the weekend, as many of the attendees were Kingstonians.

GraceKennedy's CEO Douglas Orane and his wife Michelle were out in the country enjoying the versatility of the written word.

Former Finance Minister Hugh Small, camera slung over his shoulder and newly bought books in hand, paused and flashed us a smile on his way back from a break.

Former Miss World and recording artiste Cindy Breakspeare didn't look a day older than when she won the crown as she read from V.S. Naipaul's novel, The Mystic Masseur. Professor Barry Chevannes, Pat Ramsey and Peter Bunting also read eloquently from the same novel.

The festival was not without its usual visits from Hollywood stars. This year saw the return of Delroy Lindo, who appears in movies such as Gone in Sixty Seconds and Romeo Must Die, and the appearance of Mike Farrell from the hit television sitcom MASH.

Founders of the festival, Colin Channer and Kwame Dawes, kept the balance between the arts and had a fantastic line-up of musical artistes.

They included Pam Hall, Ken Boothe, Lloyd Parkes and We the People Band, Wayne Armond, Ibo Cooper, Stevie Golding and Seretse Small.