BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The government of Cuba has held several activities to mark the 80th birthday of George Lamming, the remarkable, iconic novelist and ideologue on Caribbean social, political and cultural developments.

In the meantime, Barbados, Lamming’s country of birth, has planned a programme of activities to mark his 80th birthday. These include a public lecture on the evening of July 3 at the Frank Collymore Hall- named after Lamming’s famous mentor – to coincide with Caricom’s 28th regular annual summit, scheduled for Barbados from July 1-4.

Born on June 8, Lamming was due to return home to Barbados yesterday from Havana, the Cuban capital, where he attended award ceremonies, seminars and cultural activities including the University of Havana’s award of an honorary doctorate degree.

In Havana, where celebratory activities started at the internationally famous publishing enterprise and cultural institution – Casa de las Americas – Lamming was awarded the Haydee Santamaria medal. He is also the recipient of the Felix Varela Order, the highest distinction that Cuba’s Council of State confers on internationally renowned personalities of culture.

Along with intellectuals, writers and social/cultural activists of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Lamming also participated in the Fifth Congress of International Culture and Development held earlier this week.

Well-known Jamaican-born academic, Professor Brian Meeks of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, will deliver the Barbados lecture on July 3, with a focus on the significance of Lamming’s writings on Caribbean thought and culture. Visiting heads of government are expected to be among special invitees.

Minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office, Rev Joseph Atherley, in announcing the Barbados Government’s initiatives to salute Lamming, said that a ‘crowning tribute’ would be the official re-naming soon of the rehabilitated Erdiston/Carrington’s Primary School after the novelist and social commentator.

The school is located in Carrington village, a short distance form where Lamming was born and lived before migrating to Trinidad and Tobago and later to England.