MY BRIEF INTERVIEW FOR THE NEWSPAPER
A brief sFor the past four years, the newspaper Convergencia has kept the public
informed about the most significant events of CIESART GLOBAL.
I am sharing my interview with President Lily Baylon.
Please give a brief summary of your literary or cultural career (no more than 10 sentences).
After a successful Banking career followed by another
successful stint in the Insurance field, my life took a momentous turn after
surviving an aggressive cancer that almost claimed my life. After that
experience, I started writing books and began a prolific career as a writer and
peace advocate.
My commitment to peace has led me to serve as a Peace Ambassador
for the Iqra Foundation of India and, as President of CIESART Trinidad and
Tobago, to lead initiatives that promote art, love, and humanity. I have
created a digital platform through which my team and I extend CIESART's mission
to thousands of readers and writers in the Caribbean.
How
did you first get involved with reading or writing?
My love for reading was inspired by my father, a school
principal with a large library, that awakened in me a love of books.
Have
you published a book?
After my bout with cancer, I have published 64 books
between 2013 and 2025, spanning genres as diverse as memoirs, science fiction,
romance, self-help, children's literature, Christian books, thrillers, poetry,
and essays.
In
your opinion, what are the benefits of reading?
In my opinion, reading offers numerous benefits, including
improved literacy, mental stimulation, stress reduction, and expanded
knowledge. It also enhances vocabulary, memory, and analytical thinking skills,
while also promoting better focus, concentration, and improved writing
abilities.
Briefly
describe your plans and contributions within CIESART, based on your current
role, for the Convergencia newspaper.
Since assuming the Presidency of CIESART Trinidad and
Tobago, we have undertaken the following projects:
1. Published
an International Anthology of Poems – Creating a Better World
2. Published
an International Anthology – Peace Begins with Us.
3. Published
three International Magazines to promote CIESART’s initiatives.
4. Held a
National Book and Arts Fair in Trinidad and Tobago to promote Literacy.
5. Donated
books to schools, churches, libraries, and schools.
On May 10th, 2025, we fed the residents
of the J. C. McDonald Home for the Aged in San Fernando, Trinidad.
A team comprising the President – Brenda Mohammed,
Vice-President – Florabelle Lutchman, Director- Fiona Gobin, as well as members
of the Susamachar Presbyterian Church -
Rashiff Mohammed, Adrian Mohammed, and Chitra Badal-Mohammed, took boxes
of delicious lunches for the twenty senior residents and six staff members.
It was a heart-rending and touching experience to listen to
the plight of each one that caused them to spend their senior years in the
home.
Florabelle Lutchman said a prayer for the well-being of the
residents before lunch, and we took pleasure in serving them their meals.
We were invited to the Chairman’s quarters for a brief
discussion of how the home was born.
Founded in 1931, the J.C. Mac Donald Home for the Aged is
situated in the heart of San Fernando at Lower Independence Avenue.
Dr. Allan Mackenzie, former Principal of the Naparima Boys
College in San Fernando, and now Chairman of the Home, was always a supporter
of this initiative.
He recalled the days when they would gather homeless people
from the street and take them to the location, where there was a humble
dwelling, and provide them with food and lodging.
Over the years, it evolved into a retirement home, with a
minimal payment from the residents’ old age pension.
From all appearances, the home seems comfortable, and the
residents are happy.
They were very pleased with our visit, and we left there
satisfied that we had warmed their hearts.
For personal and security reasons, we were not allowed to
take photos with the residents.
2. Each year, we support the Animals Alive Sanctuary in
Oropouche, Trinidad, with cash donations, dog food, and treats. In 2025, we attended a musical recital held by the Sanctuary at the San Fernando Community Centre to raise funds.
We do not ask for donations, and use our personal funds for
our charitable endeavours.
Summary of my literary or cultural career (no more than 10 sentences).
After a successful Banking career followed by another successful stint in the Insurance field, my life took a momentous turn after surviving an aggressive cancer that almost claimed my life. After that experience, I started writing books and began a prolific career as a writer and peace advocate.
My commitment to peace has led me to serve as a Peace Ambassador for the Iqra Foundation of India and, as President of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago, to lead initiatives that promote art, love, and humanity. I have created a digital platform through which my team and I extend CIESART's mission to thousands of readers and writers in the Caribbean.
How did you first get involved with reading or writing?
My love for reading was inspired by my father, a school principal with a large library, that awakened in me a love of books. I loved writing essays in school and always got top marks in my class for writing them.
Have you published a book?
After my bout with cancer, I have published 64 books between 2013 and 2025, spanning genres as diverse as memoirs, science fiction, romance, self-help, children's literature, Christian books, thrillers, poetry, and essays.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of reading?
In my opinion, reading offers numerous benefits, including improved literacy, mental stimulation, stress reduction, and expanded knowledge. It also enhances vocabulary, memory, and analytical thinking skills, while also promoting better focus, concentration, and improved writing abilities.
Briefly describe your plans and contributions within CIESART, based on your current role, for the Convergencia newspaper.
Since assuming the Presidency of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago in 2022, we have undertaken the following projects:
- Published an International Anthology of Poems – Creating a Better World
- Published an International Anthology – Peace Begins with Us.
- Published three International Magazines to promote CIESART’s initiatives.
- Held a National Book and Arts Fair in Trinidad and Tobago to promote Literacy.
- Donated books to schools, churches, libraries, and schools.
This year, we have plans in May 2025 to feed the residents of the J. C. McDonald Home for the Aged in San Fernando, Trinidad.
Each year, we support the Animals Alive Sanctuary in Oropouche, Trinidad, with cash donations, dog food, and treats, and will do so again in 2025.
We do not ask for donations, and use our personal funds for our charitable endeavours.
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
A brief summary of my literary or cultural career (no more than 10 sentences).
After a successful Banking career followed by another successful stint in the Insurance field, my life took a momentous turn after surviving an aggressive cancer that almost claimed my life. After that experience, I started writing books and began a prolific career as a writer and peace advocate.
My commitment to peace has led me to serve as a Peace Ambassador for the Iqra Foundation of India and, as President of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago, to lead initiatives that promote art, love, and humanity. I have created a digital platform through which my team and I extend CIESART's mission to thousands of readers and writers in the Caribbean.
How did you first get involved with reading or writing?
My love for reading was inspired by my father, a school principal with a large library, that awakened in me a love of books. I loved writing essays in school and always got top marks in my class for writing them.
Have you published a book?
After my bout with cancer, I have published 64 books between 2013 and 2025, spanning genres as diverse as memoirs, science fiction, romance, self-help, children's literature, Christian books, thrillers, poetry, and essays.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of reading?
In my opinion, reading offers numerous benefits, including improved literacy, mental stimulation, stress reduction, and expanded knowledge. It also enhances vocabulary, memory, and analytical thinking skills, while also promoting better focus, concentration, and improved writing abilities.
Briefly describe your plans and contributions within CIESART, based on your current role, for the Convergencia newspaper.
Since assuming the Presidency of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago in 2022, we have undertaken the following projects:
- Published an International Anthology of Poems – Creating a Better World
- Published an International Anthology – Peace Begins with Us.
- Published three International Magazines to promote CIESART’s initiatives.
- Held a National Book and Arts Fair in Trinidad and Tobago to promote Literacy.
- Donated books to schools, churches, libraries, and schools.
This year, we have plans in May 2025 to feed the residents of the J. C. McDonald Home for the Aged in San Fernando, Trinidad.
Each year, we support the Animals Alive Sanctuary in Oropouche, Trinidad, with cash donations, dog food, and treats, and will do so again in 2025.
We do not ask for donations, and use our personal funds for our charitable endeavours.
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
A brief summary of my literary or cultural career (no more than 10 sentences).
After a successful Banking career followed by another successful stint in the Insurance field, my life took a momentous turn after surviving an aggressive cancer that almost claimed my life. After that experience, I started writing books and began a prolific career as a writer and peace advocate.
My commitment to peace has led me to serve as a Peace Ambassador for the Iqra Foundation of India and, as President of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago, to lead initiatives that promote art, love, and humanity. I have created a digital platform through which my team and I extend CIESART's mission to thousands of readers and writers in the Caribbean.
How did you first get involved with reading or writing?
My love for reading was inspired by my father, a school principal with a large library, that awakened in me a love of books. I loved writing essays in school and always got top marks in my class for writing them.
Have you published a book?
After my bout with cancer, I have published 64 books between 2013 and 2025, spanning genres as diverse as memoirs, science fiction, romance, self-help, children's literature, Christian books, thrillers, poetry, and essays.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of reading?
In my opinion, reading offers numerous benefits, including improved literacy, mental stimulation, stress reduction, and expanded knowledge. It also enhances vocabulary, memory, and analytical thinking skills, while also promoting better focus, concentration, and improved writing abilities.
Briefly describe your plans and contributions within CIESART, based on your current role, for the Convergencia newspaper.
Since assuming the Presidency of CIESART Trinidad and Tobago in 2022, we have undertaken the following projects:
- Published an International Anthology of Poems – Creating a Better World
- Published an International Anthology – Peace Begins with Us.
- Published three International Magazines to promote CIESART’s initiatives.
- Held a National Book and Arts Fair in Trinidad and Tobago to promote Literacy.
- Donated books to schools, churches, libraries, and schools.
This year, we have plans in May 2025 to feed the residents of the J. C. McDonald Home for the Aged in San Fernando, Trinidad.
Each year, we support the Animals Alive Sanctuary in Oropouche, Trinidad, with cash donations, dog food, and treats, and will do so again in 2025.
We do not ask for donations, and use our personal funds for our charitable endeavours.
