A LITERARY celebration of the life and times of Sir Shridath Ramphal, one of the most internationally noted West Indians in the post-independence English-speaking Caribbean's political history, takes place this evening in Georgetown, Guyana where the cultural explosions of Carifesta X are being experienced for the seventh day.

It will be marked by a ceremonial launch of "Shridath Ramphal-The Commonwealth and the World"-a dozen informative, well-researched essays by a mix of scholars, former diplomats, educators, journalists and others who are quite familiar with his years of contributions in national, regional and international affairs that span a period of some five decades.

The former vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Rex Nettleford, himself a noted icon of this region and boasting a long-working relationship with Ramphal, will introduce the former three-term Secretary General of the Commonwealth; long-serving Chancellor of the UWI; Chairman of The West Indian Commission, first Director General of the Regional Negotiating Machinery, and a name integrally linked to major efforts in an ongoing quest for regional economic and political integration.

The illustrated book of essays in honour of Ramphal's 80th birthday, which officially takes place this October 3, is one of the most recent publications of the London-based Hansib Publications Ltd.

The launch is being done in association with The Committee of the Ramphal Centre based in the United Kingdom.