Containing 163 articles, 222 poems and 100 stories, the 2007-2008 edition of the Guyana Annual was launched at Castellani House on Friday.

Published by the Guyenterprise Advertising Agency and printed by the Ramsaywack Arjun Printing and Graphics, the magazine can be purchased for $1,000.

Attending the launch was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Editor of the magazine Petamber Persaud and poets, who had their works published in the magazine.

According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), the occasion was highlighted by the presentation of prizes and a copy of the publication to poets whose works are published in the magazine. Copies were handed over to Castellani House, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company, the National Library, the University of Guyana and the National Archives.

Anthony in his remarks noted that the magazine has, for years, served as a medium where aspiring writers can be discovered, where careers can be launched and where Guyanese literature can be shared around the region and the world.

The release stated that the promotion of cultural heritage is an area in which the ministry has placed major effort and which will be highlighted this year with the hosting of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) X.

He referred to a new initiative of resurrecting books from the 15th century to be launched at Carifesta.

GINA said that in December, the ministry also launched ‘Festival of Words’ in commemoration of the life and work of Guyanese literary icon, Martin Carter. It is hoped this would be an annual feature highlighting the work of current Guyanese poets and would be included in the Guyana Annual.

Persaud, referring to the magazine’s new compositions including the Martin Cater Prize and the Egbert Martin Poetry Prize said the publication has been gaining momentum each year. He was quoted as saying that “the two new compositions are to accommodate the younger emerging writers (under 13), who were previously grouped at a disadvantage with the more mature youths.”

The magazine also has a new section labelled the Guy-aspora featuring news, views and literature from Guyanese in the Diaspora. In the next seven years, the magazine will be celebrating 100 years of existence, outliving other regional and international literary magazines and journals, the release said.