Welcome  to the Web Site of  The Commonwealth Writers of The Bahamas (TCWB)

We are a Non Profit Organization, Registered in Nassau, Bahamas on July 2nd, 2004. Our Vision is to reach
The Bahamas and the World through the written word.

 Our membership includes students, they appear above as" Pirates of Nassau" on an entrance march  at the Awards Night Ceremony for Writers on May 24th, 2008, at the Nassau Yacht Club. The Junior Writers  are from eight years to fifteen years old.

Purpose For This Organization.

Our purpose is educational, to ensure that all members who are interested in becoming Published Authors or have a Career in Writing receive the basic skills.

To pursue excellence in literary skills is one of our goals.

This site will introduce you to the beautiful people of the 700 hundred Islands of the Bahamas.

The Hermitage at Mt. Alvernia, Cat Island Bahamas.

                 Vera Poitier-Chase

President  - At The National Story Tellers Convention

C.

Junior and Adult Writers after the Annual Church Service at St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral on May 31st, 2009.

What we do?

1.  Read and Perform at Cultural Events.

2. Visit schools and mentor Junior Writers. 

3. Travel. 

4. Conduct monthly Meetings.

5  Writing Competitions.

We Assist Writers with Publishing.

We provide an Editing Service.

Information on ISBN and Bar Codes.

Publishing Companies.

Copyrights.

Adult Membership Fee is $50.00 annually.

Student  Membership Fee is $25.00 annually.

Membership is not limited to the Bahamas.

International Members are welcome.

Junior Writer -Aaron Major - Six Years old,

leading the Roots Junkanoo Group, December

25th, 2008 on Bay Street. At six years old, Aaron is the youngest member of the Commonwealth Writers of The Bahamas Junior Division.Front Front Row Guests At The Story Tellers Convention 2009. Nancy Conliffe, Junior Writers Chairperson, Dr.Evalena Bestman, Miami Fla. Chairperson for Int'l Affairs, Mrs. Marionette Poitier-Bethel, Father Michael Kelly, Angelique Mckay, Acting Director of Culture, Author Sandra Riley, Mrs. Elma Garraway, Permanent Secretary, Min. of Education.

Ashley Thompson- Junior Writer Historian as Queen Elizabeth 11, at the Story Tellers Convention  

Benjamin Moultrie- Grant

as the first Premier of The Bahamas- Sir Roland Symonette.

Junior Writer- Melissa Ingraham as

First Female Bahamian  Governor General, of The Bahamas,  Dame Ivy Dumont, at the Story Tellers Convention .The Pirates of Nassau sit in the back ground.  

Lucinda Petsch - Published Author; Chairperson for Long Island.

Below,  reading excerpts from her book at the Book Fair at The College of The Bahamas in 2008.

  Executive Members

Vera Poitier-Chase President (Published Author)

Margaret Hepburn McKay -Vice President

Stephanie Bain-Rahming- Secretary(Published Author)

LaTisha Davis -Treasurer

Samantha Miller- Asst. Treasurer(Published Author)

Cheryl Major - Chaplin (Published Author)

Cynthia Gibson - Fund Raising, Social Dev.

Mona Culmer - Fund Raising, Social Dev.

Keisha Kerr - Marketing, Public Relations.

Claudette Butler -Marketing, Public Relations.

Cecil Hall- Marketing, Public Relations.(Published Author)

Advisors

Yvette Cargill (Published Author)

Brendon Foulkes

Chair Persons

Dr. Evalena Bestman - Int'l Affairs Miami Fla.

Jonathan Robinson- Exuma Island

Margaret Nixon - Eleuthera Island(Published Author)

Lucinda Petsch - Long Island (Published Author)

Mona Culmer

Fund Raising, Social Development.

Gospel Group - The Region Bells at the Story Tellers Convention.

Pirates of Nassau - Joshua Hoffer, Justin Major, Ferron Campbell, Devard Campbell, Ashley Thompson, Aja Knowles, Aaron Major,Keegan Bishoff,Vera Chase.

Membership is easy as follows:

The Commonwealth Writers of The Bahamas (TCWB)

P.O. Box EE 16658

Nassau Bahamas

Email: commonwealthwriters@yahoo.com

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

Name______________________

Address____________P.O. Box_______

Tel (W)_____________Tel (W)________

Email:___________________________

Employment:______________________

Student Yes/No. If Yes, Name of School/Institution____________________

Published Author. Yes/No. If Yes, Name(s) of Books Published_____________________-

_________________________________

Writing Interests (  ) Fiction  ( ) Non Fiction

Poetry (  )  Children Story (  )  Short Story (  )

How to Books (  ) Bahamian Folklore (  )

Other (   )

(Application Fee $50.00 per adult/$25.00 per student annually)  

Use PayPal  to apply for membership or make a donation towards our Organization's efforts.

PLAN TO ATTEND.

The Second Annual Story Tellers Convention

 The Theme "Many People, Many Islands, One Bahamas"

Under the Patronage of The Minister for Youth Sports and Culture, The Honourable Charles Maynard,  at the

Wyndham Nassau, Crystal Palace Resort and Casino, Nassau, Bahamas, on Friday, February 19TH and Saturday February 20TH, 2010.

Friday Feb.19TH, 2010, Convention Opens

with  Old Time Story Telling, Comedy, Spoken Words, Junkanoo, Arts and Craft, Exhibition of Bahamian Authors, and Reception.

Junior Writers will  participate.

Saturday, February 20TH, 2010

"How To Write A  Best Selling Novel"  

Work Shop 10AM to 1:00PM.

Work Shop  2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

"Steps to Writing a Book"

Saturday Feb. 20TH, 2010

8:00PM - Until,  Listen and Dance to "Music That Influenced Our Culture". Rake and Scrape, Calypso, Junkanoo,  Golden Oldies. etc. 

Cost of Hotel Accommodations and Convention costs will be posted in 48 hours.

Convention Booklet

To assist some of our expenses,

A  Souvenir Booklet will be produced and we encourage Writers and many Others to high light their Talents and Interests in a special featured Section for them. Advertisements, Greeting Short Stories, Poems, Anniversaries,

Congratulations etc  are welcomed.All inside pages are printed in Black and White.

The costs are as follows:

Full Page $300.00

Half Page $150.00

Quarter Page $75.00

Back Outside Cover (Colour) $500.00

Front Inside Cover (Colour) $500.00

Back Inside Cover (Colour) $500.00

Kindly contact Committee Members

Pay On line and submit details

or email us at: commonwealthwriters@yahoo.com

Activities for 2009 - 2010

The Commonwealth Writers of The Bahamas

National Short/Poetry Competition came to a close on February 28th, 2010.

The Writing competition included Students and Adults from around The Bahamas.

EG. Schools in Nassau, New Providence.

1. Xavier's Lower Catholic School

2. Our Lady's Catholic Primary School

3.St. Cecelia's Catholic Primary School

4. St. Bede's Catholic Primary School

5. St. John's College

6. D. W. Davis Jr. High

7.C.V. Bethel High

8.Ridgeland Primary(Adult Entry)

9.Nassau Christian Academy

10. Oakes Field Primary

Schools inThe Family Islands

1. Snug Corner Primary School, Acklins Island

2.Nicholls Town Primary, Andros Island

3. Dumfries Primary, Cat Island

4.Cabbage Hill Primary, Crooked Island

5. Bimini, All Age School, Bimini Island

6.Rock Sound Primary, Eleuthera Island

7. Governor's Harbour Primary, Eleuthera Island.

.8 Long Cay All Age Primary, Long Cay/Fortune Island.

.Winners of The Writing Competition  announced at Chapter One Book Store. The College of the Bahamas.

It was a festive atmosphere on Saturday May 1st, 2010 as parents, friends, and students gathered to hear the winning entries.

Youth Poetry Winners:

Youth Poetry

1 ST. Place Deoliver A. Gibson Jr.Student at St. Cecelia's Catholic Primary School.

2. ND Place Wilton Scavella, Student

at  The Cabbage Hill Primary School-Cabbage Hill Crooked Island.

3 RD Place, Erin Haven - Student at Xavier's Lower  Catholic Primary School.

Youth Short Story

1 ST. Place Akini Morris -Student at Nassau Christian Academy.

 2 ND Place Jasmond Rashae Collie, Student at Long Cay All Age School.

3 RD Place, Ebony Miller Student at

D.W. Davis Jr. High.

Adult Short Story

1 ST. Place Natalie Grant, New Providence.

2 ND Place Kephiyrah Etienne, Abaco

3 RD Place Christopher Nixon- Student St. John's College -Nassau.

Prizes and Certificates will be awarded at a special Awards Night ceremony in September

Cheryl Major, Lynette Thompson dancing The Pony"at the Mix N'Mingle Party

Junior Writer,Akini Morris as Sir Milo Butler, First Bahamian Governor General at the Story Tellers Convention, Feb. 2009  

 Chynna Rose Foulkes - Junior Writer as Queen Victoria at the Story Tellers Convention, February 2009 at the Wyndham Nassau Crystal Palace Resort and Casino.

Margaret Hepburn-McKay

Vice President  -Spoken Word presentation at the Story Tellers Convention.

Stephanie Bain-Rahming

Secretary - Narrating "Poor Kate" at the Story Tellers Convention.

Jonathan Robinson- Chairperson for Exuma, sitting on a boat he operates in beautiful Elizabeth Harbour, Exuma.

He is from Mangrove Cay, Andros and has relocated to George Town, Exuma.

Samantha Miller - Asst. Treasurer, and Mark Desmangles

Summer Bain - Arawak  Indian -Story Tellers Convention

Black Beard's Trial -

Junior Writers as Pirates of Nassau.

Chapter One Book Store, The College of The Bahamas.

Junior Writers 8 yrs to 15yrs old.

Summer Bain - Fiction,Short Stories,Poetry

Sheena Glover-Berkley --Fiction,Non Fiction,Children Stories

Davnielle Butler - Poetry

Reece Butler -Poetry, Fiction,Children Stories

Shannon Butler - Short Stories, Poetry

Devard Campbell -Short Stories, Sports

Ferron Campbell -Poetry. Music, Sports

Dylan Cash - Poetry

Christie M. Culmer -Poetry, Drama

Mica Cunningham -Poetry, Short Stories

Litrell Deal (Long Island) - Poetry

Sydny Delancy - Poetry

Kephiyrah Etienne (Abaco) -Poetry, Short Stories

Jared Fitzgerald - Poetry

Melissa Ingraham- Poetry

Chynna Rose Foulkes - Poetry, Short Stories

Benjamin Moultrie -Grant - Fiction, Short Stories, Scripts.

Aja Knowles - Poetry, Drama

Aaron Major- Drummer, Junaknoo Artist, Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field.

Justin Major - Poetry, How to Books, Track and Field.

Akini Morris - Poetry, Short Stories, Children Stories.

Jessica Petsch (Long Island), Poetry

Westinique Stubbs (Cat Island) -Poetry

Ashley Thompson - Poetry, Short stories

Fredericka Williams (Cat Island) Poetry

Keisha Kerr, Margaret Hepburn-Mckay, and Cynthia Knowles.

Exhibition of Bahamian Authors -

Yvette Cargill, Chynna Rose Foulkes

Poor Kate Dancer

Marcel Major ( Father of Aaron and Justin) at Story Tellers Convention.

Located in the Garden at the Lynden Pindling Airport

In full view of arriving and departing passengers in  Nassau, Bahamas is The Commonwealth Writers Sign.

Preparation Meeting for The Story Tellers Convention at Chapter One Book Store.

Farion Cooper(Black Beard ) and his Crew, The Pirates of Nassau, Justin Major, Ferron and Devard Campbell -

Angelique'Mckay  and Margaret Hepburn- Mckay at The Story Tellers Convention.____________________

The Commonwealth Writers of The Bahamas (TCWB)

Short Story/Poetry Competition Form

Application Fee:$10.00

Start Date: Nov 2/2009 To  jan 31ST./2010 

Enter your Most Brilliant and Exciting

Short Stories and Poetry

 8yrs to 10yrs Poetry ANY THEME, No Word Count

11yrs to 15yrs  Short Story, ANY THEME,  800 Words.

16yrs and over and Adults, Short Story, ANY THEME, 1500 words.

 8yrs to 10 yrs 1st Prize $100.00,2nd $75.00, 3rd $50.00

11yrs to 15yrs 1st $200.00, 2nd $100.00, 3rd $75.00.

16yrs and Over and Adults

1st $300.00, 2nd $200.00, 3rd $100.00

Name_____________DOB______________

.Address ________________________

PO.Box________Tel (H)_________-

Tel (W)                 (Cell___________

Work Place/Or Ed. Institution____________

RULES AND GUIDELINES.

*Stay within the guidelines for Short Story.Poetry for 8yrs to 10yrs only.

*Application Fee $10.00  by Bank Draft or Money Order. Enclose Application with US or B$  Money Order made out to "The Commonwealth Writers of The Bahamas, c/o Latisha Davis, P.O. Box EE 16658, Nassau, Bahamas.

* Typed Work Preferred.

*Size 12 font.

*Ensure pages are numbered and each page has your name,telephone number, and email address.

*Participants are requested to keep a copy of their work.

*The Commonwealth Writers retain the rights to publish all entries.

Executive Officers of TCWB are not allowed to participate,

International Applicants may type their entry as a Word Document then Attach and send to:commonwealthwriters@yahoo.com

Payment can be made  by using Pay Pal on this Site. 

For Short Stories: No Pornography,Horror, Gay and Lesbian, killings of Humans or Pets,

Weird Themes, Violence, or Bad Language.

Applicant's Signature_______________

 The Story Tellers Convention February 19TH &20th, 2010

Junior Writers at the opening night Mix N'Mingle Party at Xavier's Lower School, Friday February 19th, 2010.

Standing, Dominic Thompson, Cierra
Evans. Seated right to left, AshleyThompson, Chynna Rose Foulkes, Summer Bain, Aaron Major, Justin Major, and Devard Campbell.