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News  V.S. Naipaul’s House for Mr. Biswas converted to a museum

Nobel Prize winning author Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul or "V. S." Naipaul is one of the world’s literary greats coming out of Trinidad and Tobago.  In recognition of his accomplishments, the house at the centre of one of his best known novels will be opened to the public in the form of a literary museum in October 2013. 

Literary buffs visiting Trinidad in the near future can add a stop at the residence made immortal in the 1961 novel A House for Mr. Biswas as a “must do” activity whilst on the island.  Ranked at number 72 on list of 100 best English-language novels of the 20^th century by Modern Library Review, A House for Mr. Biswas tells the sometimes tragic, often hilarious, story of Mohun Biswas, an Indo-Trinidadian whose elusive search for success finally ends when he achieves the goal of owning his own home. 

Naipaul drew some elements of the book from the life of his father and the author’s childhood home, located in the Port of Spain suburb of St James, provided the inspiration for Mr. Biswas’ house. Still standing today, the main structure of the house fits perfectly with the description in the novel and after years of planning, the building, with many of its original furnishings and fittings, is now open to the public. The house has been transformed into a museum with old black and white photos of the family displayed on the walls, while conserving the original furniture inherited by the Naipauls when they moved there in 1946. There are also two apartments which could be rented to visiting scholars who are researching topics related to T&T’s culture. It is also intended to be an international study centre for education, international and local cultural tourism and research on the Naipaul family’s writings.

The group Friends of Mr. Biswas, with the government’s assistance, began renovations in 2008 and these were completed in 2010.  With the input of members of the Naipaul family, renovation work included the restoration, and in some cases reconstruction, of furnishings and fittings described in the novel. Items such as the yellow typewriter, which actually exists, the hatrack, bookcase and dining table, will all be on display. 

Born in Chaguanas, in the central part of the island of Trinidad, Sir V. S. Naipaul is the holder of the 2001 Nobel Prize for literature.  The museum aims to bring to life for visitors the literary genius that is Trinidad and Tobago’s own Sir V. S. Naipaul, while providing a rare glimpse into the early life and inspiration of the notoriously private author.

Ministry of Tourism Streams Live Tourism Television - April 18th, 2011 Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Tourism will usher in a new era in Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism sector with the debut of Tourism Television on April 19, 2011. Streaming live via the worldwide web at www.tourism.gov.tt, the first instalment of Tourism Television will feature a Tourism Breakfast Morning seminar hosted by the Ministry of Tourism at the Leon Agostini Conference Hall, Chamber Building, Columbus Circle, Westmoorings. Minister of Tourism Dr the Honourable Rupert Griffith, will be the featured speaker at the interactive seminar which is aimed at raising tourism awareness within the business community and increasing support for the industry. Also delivering speeches at the seminar will be His Excellency Malay Mishra, the Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago and Ms Catherine Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Following the presentation by Minister Griffith, which will focus on the government’s new vision for the tourism sector, investment incentives that will regulate the sector and new marketing and public relations plans that will drive increased visitor arrivals, there will be question and answer session. The live streaming of Tourism Television can be accessed at www.tourism.gov.tt on April 19.