Book industry association of jamaica biaj

The book industry association of jamaica biaj has announced that the kingston book festival, usually held every march, will become an biennial event, with the next staging taking place in march 2018. The decision was taken at a meeting with representatives of the book industry association of jamaica biaj, the minister of finance, officials of the ministry of education and tax officials. When you hear the number of books submitted it really sounds as if we have a vibrant publishing industry. Through the book industry association of jamaica biaj, the kya keys book drive will provide new and gentlyused reading materials to patients in the. And the biennial schedule will be maintained, so after the 2018 staging the next kingston book festival will be in 2020. Bamboo industry association of jamaica biaj the university of the west indies, mona. Jamcopy represents the creators and publishers of most of the literary works published in jamaica. British jamaican poet to headline deaf poetry slam at. Book industry association of jamaica home facebook.

The association is claiming that the decision runs counter to the education ministrys push for literacy and reading. The biaj estimates that 80% of book sales in jamaica are related to educational materials, so. Treasure beach is the first jamaican community out of the blocks to take up the. How many persons are aware of the book industry association of jamaica biaj. Education ministry working with biaj in preparation for. View robert rainfords profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. This young american artist aaron boyd, was located by scholastic and brought to jamaica courtesy of book merchant, one of our leading book distributors.

Raymond, who will be headlining the literary festival, will also lead a workshop on deaf storytelling on thursday. Kgn book festival sticks to biennial plan jamaica gleaner. Lb hons at the university of huddersfield in the united kingdom. Associations representing creators and publishers are our members. The flourishing relationship between women and the book. Steadman was installed as custos rotulorum for the parish of kingston on 25 february 2010. The biaj is committed to promoting literacy and the reading habit as tools for national development, economic growth and educational excellence.

We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Theres a lot of interest in jamaican sports and sporting personalities, both in jamaica and abroad. Kbf was one of the biaj s flagship events and the 2017 edition would have marked its milestone 5th year. Book industry association of jamaica biaj booksellers. It is more than an organisation, because, with an event like this, it extends itself to function as the vanguard of a literary revolution in the island. He was the second recipient of the prestigious trail blazer award from the book industry association of jamaica biaj. Shirley carby carlong publishers, the organizations first president. Celebrating books about jamaican sports firstlook go. The british council is partnering with the book industry association of jamaica biaj to support the staging of a deaf poetry slam led by raymond antrobus at the kingston book fair on sunday, march 11th at hope gardens. The biaj was established as an umbrella organization to promote the interests of the local book trade and ensure its balanced and integrated development. The weeklong series of activities includes a church service, book readings at kingston venues, an exhibit of rare jamaican books at the national library and a publishing workshop.

Hectic weekend of activities with the book industry association of jamaica biaj awards ceremony, illustrators workshops, readings etc. What is the abbreviation for book industry association of jamaica. The biaj intends to continue on its present path of building membership, extending its range of activities and working with government and other organisations to build the jamaican book publishing industry and enrich the cultural life of our country. An appeal by the book industry association of jamaica biaj for government to remove the general consumption tax on locally printed books has been met by suggestions that the sector sharpen its. Kya publishing book drive to donate childrens books to. The biaj booksellers trade show was held downtown, kingston on june 18, and publishers and wholesalers took advantage to make pitches to booksellers across jamaica. Book industry association of jamaica do good jamaica. The local book publishing sector is predominantly dominated by international book publishers that, while having a wider regional focus in marketing efforts to the whole of the caribbean, also focus exclusively on jamaica for countryspecific publications. Founded in june 1989, the book industry association of jamaica biaj was established as an umbrella organization to promote the interests of the local book trade and ensure its balanced and integrated development. The book drive will take place from friday, march 1 st through saturday, march 30, 20. Latoya westblackwood, chair, book industry association of jamaica biaj told the sunday gleaner, that putting the festival on hold i 2017 was a matter of ensuring sustainability. Reading kindles the mind the jamaica gleaner blogs. Jamaica gleaner news book industry joins criticism of. The individual creators and publishers are our affiliates current members the book industry association of jamaica biaj.

Biaj abbreviation stands for book industry association of jamaica. The book industry association of jamaica biaj emerged from a meeting with the ministry of education on monday confident that the issues surrounding textbooks. Book industry association of jamaica biaj booksellers trade show 2015. The biaj recognises the importance of an indigenous book industry to the development of the. Shirley carby, chairman of the board of directors at carlong publishers, is the founding president of the book industry association of jamaica biaj established in 1989, which brings together all sectors of the industry and facilitates joint development initiatives, improved standards of service to the public, and a joint lobby on issues affecting the industry. The biaj promotes the development of an indigenous jamaican publishing industry, with an important role to play in national development. Chief education officer in the ministry of education, youth and information, dr. Carlong publishers presented their new and current publications for early childhood and primary students at the book industry association of jamaica biaj annual trade show to booksellers.

On thursday, march 24, 2011 the book industry association of jamaica biaj hosted its eleventh biennial publishing and writing awards at the courtleigh auditorium. Last saturday, as part of the book industry association of jamaica biaj celebrations, we writers met an overseas artist, and writers read from their works. This year, read across jamaica foundation will partner with the book industry association of jamaica biaj to include in their distribution 500 brandnew books written by jamaican authors and feature several of these local authors as key readers throughout their journey across jamaica. The biaj estimates that 80% of book sales in jamaica are related to educational materials, so the expo is in preparation for the backtoschool season which determines the. Latoya west blackwood, president, book industry association of jamaica file photo.

An artist and writers, together in spirit diane browne. The hon steadman fuller is a leading figure in the book industry. Grace mclean, says the ministry has commenced work with the book industry association of jamaica biaj as part of preparations for the primary exit profile pep examinations in 2019. Uwi press shines at biaj award ceremony marketing and. Winners of the publishing awards were selected by panels of judges. The book industry association of jamaica biaj is calling for the government to roll back the general consumption tax gct now being applied to books and other printed material, which are not educational or religious.

Book industry association of jamaica concerned about gct. As founder and ceo of ipublish consultancy and imagination books, westblackwood is the youngest chairperson of the organization to date. He is a founding member of the book industry association of jamaica biaj which was established in 1989. You should not be struggling to get sponsorship, she told jls officials. Book industry association confident pep textbook issues. For the kingston book festival, magnus has partnered with publisher latoya westblackwood, who recently took over the helm at the 27yearold book industry association of jamaica biaj. Just briefly announcing that my book bernie and the captains ghost won the best childrens chapter book award for 2011. Childrens book awards 2011 biaj the book industry association of jamaica biaj had its biennial book awards which focus on publishing, on thursday evening, in what was a lovely gala event.

An entrepreneur and philanthropist, he is chairman and managing director of the. The book industry association of jamaica will stage the kingston book festival, march 11 17 2012. Writers and publishers need to look at tapping into that appeal. There are a number of publishers that produce newspapers, magazines and books, many of which are based in the capital city, kingston. The bamboo industry association of jamaica biaj, established under the collaboration of the bureau of standards jamaica bsj and the small business association sbaj, is an ecofriendly organization that supports going green initiative. Activities include a national book fair with a variety of awards to promote and reward excellence in book publishing, promotion and distribution, as well as overall service to the industry. Chairman at bamboo industry association of jamaica biaj jamaica 33 connections. Chair of the book industry association of jamaica latoya westblackwood came straight to the point in her remarks. Founded in june 1989, the book industry association of jamaica biaj was first conceived and presided over by mrs. While stalwart sponsors like the gleaner have supported the competition since day one, other large companies still seem more interested in putting up huge amounts of money for expensive parties. Uwi press shines at biaj award ceremony at the 10th biennial book industry of jamaica national book award ceremony held recently, the university of the west indies press, its authors and staff received a record number of awards.