My Experience at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados

Ready for another event!

I was blessed to attend both CARIFESTA X in 2008 and CARIFESTA XV in 2025 as a poet. Here are my thoughts.

Mission

2008: I was an active member of the Callaloo Poets, and our mission for CARIFESTA X was to promote our book, Virgin Islands Callaloo: Poems from the Caribbean, and to showcase the Virgin Islands' talent. April Glasgow and Jerome Joseph, authors in the anthology, also travelled to Guyana for the event. Hon. Dr. Natalio Wheatley, also known as Sowande Uhuru, joined the delegation at the time. We interacted with other regional poets, performed, and displayed our book.

2025: Seventeen years later, the mission was more personal but still wider. I wanted to promote my book, Be Inspired: Poems by Linette Rabsatt, showcase my versatility, and support the other members of our delegation, especially three young poets, Trinity Lettsome, Abbria Hodge, and Michael Jefferson.

Delegation

2008: The delegation in 2008 included visual artists, moko jumbies, writers, artisans, and other talents, including Ghost, Trenita Hodge, and Gregory Tye.

2025: Our 53-member delegation included visual artists, writers, dancers, a core youth presence, animators, tourism experts, and filmmakers. 

Dressed for the Literary Gala

My Experience

2008: I travelled on different days from the delegation and was stranded in Trinidad overnight after being bumped from my flight. Despite that challenge, after arriving in Guyana, I listened to other regional talents and performed. I wrote a poem about the event in 2008, CARIFESTA X, and it was recently published by Wax Poetry Magazine. 

2025: I had no travel issues! I attended seven workshops covering children's fiction, prose, playwriting, technology-infused publications, and reframing our stories. I also facilitated a workshop, Understanding One's Poetic Journey. I first hosted this workshop through Pass the Word VI for a small group in the USVI in July 2025.

More about CARIFESTA XV

My Workshop

I did not sleep well the night before the workshop because I was still unsure of my content. When I started the session, the audience was filled with my delegation. Eventually, others joined in, including Robert Gibson, a notable Barbadian poet and CEO of Passionate Words Editing Services, and a young lady I met at another event. Another poet also joined in and participated. I also gave Mr. Luke, and Ms. Anika Christopher, and Mrs. Andria Flax from my delegation an opportunity to share insights on their publishing journey.

During the session, I saw people in the audience shed their inhibitions and share their work. I was most impressed with five young people from our youth cohort. We had encouraged them to create a group poem. I was about to close the session when one of them reminded me that they were charged with sharing their piece. I didn't have to prod or encourage - they were ready. I was inspired.

Posing with Kacey Garvey, 2025 National Spoken Word Awards Best International Poet

Making Connections

I would say that this was the greatest benefit of CARIFESTA XV. I linked with a Barbadian HR Colleague and met poets from Jamaica that I have interacted with online. Most importantly, I was able to get to know our delegation. I attended film debuts, Big Conversations, and art showcases because I wanted to witness Virgin Islands talent on display.

I also linked up with a few talented poets: Alistair from St. Kitts and Nevis, Kwame from Trinidad and Tobago, Kacey, Britton and Steve from Jamaica, Zenna from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Fiona from Anguilla, Jeffrey from Suriname and many others from Barbados and Anguilla.

Posing with Robert Gibson aka PassionPoet and CEO of Passionate Words Editing Services

Working with the Young Poets

I had the pleasure of working with the three young poets that I mentioned above. We met virtually and in-person a few times to prepare for the trip. I challenged them with prompts and poetic forms. They always remained respectful, sharp, and creative. I was very proud to see Michael and Trinity perform in the first WAPAX Poetry Slam. Initially, when we met, I told the young people that we should perform every time a mic became available. They listened and shared their inspiration!

The Poem that Broke Me

I attended a workshop hosted by Dr. Opal Palmer Adisa, and she introduced an exercise by asking us to think about our ancestors. I was already teary but holding strong. She then directed us to think about walking into the sea, letting the water cover our heads, and listening to an ancestor's voice. I wrote a poem, and when I went to read it, I broke down. I really felt like my ancestors were calling out to me to wake up. Here is the poem that broke me.

My Breaking

You are the warrior

Called to awaken your brothers and sisters

Reminding them of the need to stay steadfast

All that glitters won't last

I call on you to stand up

For those who are voiceless

And that's regardless of creed or color

You have been sitting on your dreams

You can't stand in what seems to be okay

You weren't made to be mediocre

Let go of the chokehold

Even as this water gets cold

And you feel like you're drowning

You still wear a crown

You still have to be what you

Were molded to be

So even as you turn the leaf

Because your pages seem filled

It is in your will to be

Don't let me down

Don't disappoint your ancestors

They struggled so you can have it better

They gave you inspiration and passion

The basic facets for you to make a difference

Just renew your commitment to being you

© Linette Rabsatt 8-25-2025

Suprise Recognition

I was invited to a Literary Gala, and it was a beautiful event that featured Barbadian Literary titans. When we went outside for refreshments, Mia Lennard told me that my information was being displayed. I was shocked! My writing has come a long way since 1996, and I am grateful for every encouraging word, criticism, and rejection because I have seen the difference in my work. I want to inspire the world with my words.

Photo taken by Mia Lennard

Thank You

I am very thankful to the Premier, Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sustainable Development for affording me the opportunity to represent the Virgin Islands at CARIFESTA XV. I hope that my work, words, and passion made BVI proud. I have to mention our lead officer, Mr. K’Mari Fahie, Assistant Secretary, for his excellence in ensuring that we were comfortable and engaged.

Investing in What Grows Me

I invested in a small tablet to read from and update my social media while I was in Barbados. I also want to shout out my son, Anthony Cheltenham Jr., of 3AL Productions. He created my logo, Be Inspired, long before the book came to life. I wore several of his designs in Barbados.

Posing in Barbados close to Rihanna's House wearing a grad shirt designed by Anthony

Takeaways from CARIFESTA XV

I have to keep writing

I need to take the ideas out of my head and share them in print, on social media and in the community. When I wrote  my short story, A Paltry Poultry Tale, I was just playing around with the behavior of the chickens that visit me. At the workshop with Delvin Howell, I dissected that story and linked it to relationships, women's issues, our prejudices and comedy. Who would think that a story about Henito, JaQuiche, Egglantina and Henrietta would have so much layers (pun intended)? The tools that I learned will help me to develop stories that are relevant and engaging. I am truly thankful for the experience.

We Need to Create Bios

Every creative needs to have a 50-100 word bio. The bio should clearly state where you are from, what you do, and your accolades.

Here is my bio:
Linette Rabsatt is a Virgin Islands poet with roots in the BVI and USVI who began writing in 1996. You can find her work in her Kindle book, "Be Inspired: Poems by Linette Rabsatt" and on her blog, Words of Ribbon. Her poems and short stories have been published in various journals, magazines, and anthologies, including Pulse Poetry Magazine, Visual Verse, Syncopation Literary Journal, Spillwords, and Micromance Magazine. She won the 2024 Read Yuh Ting TOO Virtual Caribbean Poetry Contest and placed second in the 2025 Tell Yuh Story Contest.

My first bio shared with a journal or magazine may state that I have written 400 poems. I think I should be close to 1,000 if I include the haikus, tankas, and eintous. Since I've become more active in Facebook poetry groups that share prompts, and after teaming up with Legendary Ink, my collection has exploded.

My content that was on display

Give the Crowd Something to Take Away

I displayed a letter-sized sheet with my contact information, bio, and social media links with QR Codes. I think that everyone displaying literary and visual arts needs to create similar or business cards. We must use technology to our advantage.

I want to inspire the closet writers who have a story to tell. My duty is to share my insights on writing, performing, and publishing. I am no expert, but I think that I am good at encouraging others!

Be inspired!

Repping my BVI pin made by Clovers