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Robert Lallgies Pantheons of West Indian Greats Robert Lallgie is West Indian, a writer and historian who specialises Caribbean culture, and is regarded as an expert on the Second World War. Born in New Amsterdam in 1953 he is the son of one of Guyana’s most accomplished musician, Joyce Ferdinand –Lalligie (later Sounders). Having come to the UK aged 9 years old by 23 his curiosity for his place of birth and love of culture drove him to achieve much in the UK. He becoming an avid broadcaster, traveller and historian but maintains that it is his Guyanese heritage that he places among his topmost subjects of pride, and love of country. He has developed a working practice which enables him to move between his homeland and the UK. “I returned to Guyana because I wanted to know about the land of my birth; I wanted to write a book, immerse myself in my culture, because I knew nothing of it,” Robert told the Pepperpot Magazine. At the time, he said that the world was starved for Caribbean writers, much less those from Guyana, adding that Edgar Mittelholzer who, coincidentally, was also from New Amsterdam, was the only West Indian author whose work had made it abroad.” Feeling the need to make his mark in his own country having become quite an art enthusiast in England he took love of writing and drama back to Guyana to make a contribution there. It was not long before he active in plays at the Theatre Guild and the national Cultural Centre and was head hunted by the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). During that time, Robert was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview Afro-Trinidadian historian, journalist and socialist, Cyril Lionel Robert (CLR) James. Seeing it as a great opportunity for Guyana, and wanting to make a Guyanese connection, he returned to Guyana where he wrote, narrated and produced an exclusive radio show “CLR James; His life and thoughts.” The show was later broadcast in every state in the United States over 150 radio stations on the WBAI network completely unedited, making it the first Caribbean-produced programme to ever be given that honour. But what started as a three-month plan, developed into a love affair with broadcasting; an affair that didn’t end until 1988 when he returned to the UK to pursue his Post-Graduate Degree in Management His knowledge and research on CLR James landed him to be invited to lecture before a select batch of professors and wardens from famous colleges at the Oxford University in 2010; an event that Robert holds as a badge of pride to date. Robert’s other achievements include a one-off radio programme, “Britain’s greatest living composer- Albert Katelby” which aired on BBC 4’s radio station in 2000. Robert is the author of several books “Sir Arthur Lewis; A Biographical Profile” which he was encouraged to publish by St Vincent and the Grenadines’, then, Minister of Education, John Horne. He also published “A bouquet of Guyanese Flowers” an anthology of Guyanese Poetry, as well as the Guyanese Examiner, a magazine that focuses on — you guessed it — all things Guyanese. Robert also planed to publish Volume Two of “A bouquet of Guyanese Flowers,” featuring the works of modern local poets. Robert continues to promote his love for Guyana, both by spending large chunks of time on her shores or promoting his work abroad.