From the start of this year, the International Authors Forum has strengthened its presence in the Caribbean. Working with two member organisations in the region, IAF has launched new partnerships that broaden its engagement and deepen its collaboration there.
In March, poet Delbert Céspedes, representing IAF member JAIKU, where he serves on the board, travelled to the Dutch‑speaking island of Curaçao for the Caricon Poetry Slam. During his visit, he took part in outreach activities in local schools and met with authors and literary networks to discuss IAF’s work in protecting authors’ rights and supporting creators in monetising their work. He also represented IAF at the Poetry Slam final.
This engagement formed part of a wider collaboration with Caricon (Caribbean Literary, Culture & Heritage Organisation), an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to celebrating, preserving and promoting Caribbean arts and narratives globally. Caricon and the IAF Caribbean Chapter are working together to strengthen the voice of authors at the policymaking level in the region, and this partnership will continue to develop at upcoming Caricon events planned for this year in Toronto and Martinique.
Reflecting on the visit, Delbert said, “This initiative marked a successful introduction of IAF into Curaçao, combining visibility, relationship‑building, and strategic insight to support long‑term regional growth.”
Building on this momentum, in May, IAF member the Circle of Poets of Trinidad and Tobago hosted a dedicated IAF/Circle of Poets booth at Bocas Lit Fest, which also welcomed the Poet Laureate of Trinidad and Tobago, Paul Keens‑Douglas. The booth engaged festival attendees in conversations about the work of both organisations and encouraged participation in IAF’s regional initiative, the IAF Caribbean Chapter.
Rachael Collymore, who led the collaboration on the ground in Trinidad, said, “We look forward to future collaborations that will amplify our literary output and advance equitable recognition for Caribbean writers.”
Together, these events formed part of the International Authors Forum’s Caribbean Chapter initiative. The Chapter is a regional subgroup of the IAF, working in parallel with the IAF Latin America Network to build awareness of the importance of advocating for authors’ rights across the regions. It does so through online meetings and in‑person participation at relevant events, working with both established authors’ organisations and individuals passionate about the role of copyright in defending authors’ livelihoods, cultural identity and diversity. The Chapter also supports authors in monetising their work and validating the profession, including those who may not yet have a formal organisation representing them.