In August, the nation of Trinidad and Tobago mourned the death of their national-icon and Nobel Laureate V.S. Naipaul, with many calling him “one of greatest gifts to the world”. Mr Naipaul was in the town of Chaguanas. Three newspapers gave prominence to Naipaul’s death with front page articles as his death was announced. He was just a few days shy of his 86th birthday.

Mr Naipaul went to study at Oxford University, having won a scholarship. He was knighted by Her Majesty, the Queen in 1990, and in 2001 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award, the Trinity Cross. His sterling career commenced in the 1950s when he went on to quickly distinguished himself as a writer of considerable skill. During the 1970s his writings focused on post-colonial culture in the Caribbean.

Prime Minister Keith Rowley highly praised the late author. “He was unwavering in his resolve to tell his stories as he saw fit. Moreover, his strength of character was responsible in no small part for his renowned success. This proud son of Trinidad and Tobago established himself as an icon in the literary arts on the global stage and his world renowned achievements caused his birthplace to shine in a positive light, the PM said.