St. Martin poet and blogger Safiyya Chance congratulates contestants at the Stingray Poetry Slam competition during the BVI Literary Arts Festival 2026. (Photo courtesy HLSCC)
MARIGOT/GREAT BAY--St. Martin poet Safiyya Chance returned home on November 8 from Tortola, where she participated as an invited writer in the BVI Literary Arts Festival, November 5–8, 2026, said her publisher, Jacqueline Sample, president of House of Nehesi Publishers.
Guest authors at the BVI Literary Arts Festival 2026 in Tortola. L-R: Claire Adam, novelist (Eng-land/Trinidad and Tobago); Karen Lord, science fiction novelist (Barbados); Safiyya Chance, poet and blogger (St. Martin); and Tiphanie Yanique, novelist (Virgin Islands, USVI/BVI). © Photo courtesy of Diana McCaulay, novelist (Jamaica).
The Native Choir author was a panellist in the “Say It: Poetry & Voice” discussion on November 6.
On November 7, she also performed her poetry, including a new piece titled
“Waatating,” which prompted audience members to shout and applaud at the poem’s conclusion during the “Light a Fire: Poets’ Showcase,” said Sample.
Chance also served as one of four judges for the Stingray Poetry Slam, an annual competition or-ganised by H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. The Virgin Islands lit fest incorporated the competi-tion into its literary programme, promoting the event with the message: “Give young people a pen, a mic and a stage... and listen to what jumps out.”
The slam winners were Roelle Baird (first place), Niaeika Aymer (second place), and
Amber Hastings (third place).
Nearly 50 acclaimed and emerging writers, editors, and artists from the Virgin Islands,
across the Caribbean, and beyond participated in the 2026 festival, held under the theme “Mouth Open, Story Jump Out.” Among them were Diana McCaulay, Etaf Rum, Claire Adam, Anthony Joseph, Ingrid Persaud, Richard Georges, Lilliam Rivera, Tiphanie Yanique, Chris Jackson, and Monéa
