Rowland Parks Awarded the Zee Edgell Prize for Literary Arts

Retired journalist Rowland Parks of Pomona Valley has been honoured with the Zee Edgell Prize for Literary Arts, recognising his contributions as a journalist and poet. The announcement was made by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) on its Facebook page.

NICH said, Parks’ journey to literary acclaim began despite an early departure from school. His thirst for knowledge eventually led him back to education, where he earned a journalism degree from Baruch College, City University of New York. His literary talent first gained recognition in 1977 when his evocative poems were featured in “An Anthology of Belizean Poetry: Vol 2.”

“However, it was his seminal work, “Poems of Passion, Patriotism, and Protest,” co-authored with luminaries Dickie Bradley and Evan X Hyde, that truly cemented his place in Belize’s literary landscape. Leading up to his recent retirement in 2021, Parks distinguished himself as one of Belize’s preeminent photojournalists, capturing the essence of his homeland through his lens.”

NICH explained that before retiring in 2021, Parks was celebrated as one of Belize’s leading photojournalists, capturing the essence of the nation through his photography. Earlier this year, over 20 of Belize’s most esteemed poets and writers gathered to pay tribute to Parks, highlighting his lasting influence on Belizean literature and journalism.