ST. MARTIN (October 10, 2002) — The www.houseofnehesipublish.com has just been upgraded with St. Martin art and book reviews, a music profile on Tanny & The Boys and a free international currency converter service.
The House of Nehesi Publishers web designer Sundiata Lake actually gave the Internet site a new look in addition to opening the “Art Revue” and “Book Reviews” pages and new features such as the international currency converter, weather and horo-scope. “The site is not just to view books and authors published in St. Martin, but now a student could use the site as a valuable homework and study source for literature, art and music,” says Lasana M. Sekou, projects director at House of Nehesi Publishers.
“And anyone at home or abroad, or a potential visitor or repeat visitor to St. Mar-tin from anywhere in the world can also get exciting and expert references, actual text and see pictures of the works of St. Martin’s authors, painters and musicians, and information about other Caribbean authors and books.”
The début of the Art Revue page comes in fascinating full color with paintings, critiques, profiles and artistic statements by Roland Richardson, Joe Dominique and Deborah Drisana Jack. The Book Reviews page includes a comprehensive introduction to literature in St. Martin and the Windward Islands by Caribbean literature expert Fabian Badejo. The music page has been enhanced with an updated profile and a handsome photo of Tanny & The Boys, one of the most active senior stringbands in the Caribbean. There are plans to enhance the music section with live music and profiles of other musicians and reviews of their work, says Sekou.
But why the “universal currency converter?” In St. Martin, where some three to four currencies interact daily from the Marigot market to the banks and other financial institutions in both capitals of the island, it could be seen as normal. “And in a region with nearly 10 national and territorial currencies, we thought that partnering with a reputable international currency converter service like xe.com was not only exciting, but a natural St. Martin approach to business resourcefulness and hospitality,” says Sekou. So if you want to know official exchange rates between any Caribbean, Americas, European, African or Asian currencies, log on to www.houseofnehesipublish.com . This free service is also great for schools with economics, social studies and tourism courses.
A more user-friendly “News Releases” page and the weather and horoscope features round off this first major upgrade of the House of Nehesi website since its launch in 2000. House of Nehesi Publishers is also celebrating its 20th anniversary as a non-profit foundation with an emphasis on book publishing.