The Peridot Foundation received an "appreciation gift" of the popular Yvette’s cookbook here last Thursday from the St. Martin Book Fair Committee (BFC), said Shujah Reiph, book fair coordinator.
Peridot founder the Hon. Drs. Gracita Arrindell, said that while Peridot is a foundation that relies on contributions, it was happy to come to the aid of the book fair in early June with a small financial contribution.
Drs. Arrindell recalled her early love for reading and taking the neighborhood children to the library when she was between six and eight years of age. Arrindell said that one of the reasons why she is supportive of the book fair is because, "I know what reading did for me. Reading is also responsible for where I am today."
Drs. Arrindell, who is also President of the Territory’s Parliament, further thanked the book fair organizers for encouraging reading, writing, and critical thinking among the young and all other age groups with the annual event.
Each year, the St. Martin Book Fair gathers writers and experts from the island and around the world for school visits, public literary readings, launches of new books, and free workshops on a range of topics.
Peridot coordinator Amalia Elstak, who is a St. Martin veteran teacher, said, "reading motivates the youth to do positive things in life." BFC member Conneir Thelwell thanked Peridot for being a partner of the 9th annual St. Martin Book Fair.
Yvette’s cookbook, From Yvette’s Kitchen To Your Table – A Treasury of St. Martin’s Traditional & Contemporary Cuisine by Yvette Hyman, was the main title launched at the book fair on June 4.
Peridot is an NGO that works for the empowerment of women in particular and the family in general.