OCM Bocas Prize 2026 winner Tessa McWatt delivered an emotional and deeply personal address on Saturday night, dedicating her historic win to her mother while reflecting on her enduring connection to the Caribbean.

Speaking after being announced the overall winner at the Bocas Lit Fest prize-giving ceremony in Port of Spain, the Guyana-born, Canada-based writer said she was “so grateful” to finally attend the festival in person, after previously being unable to travel from London in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For someone who left the Caribbean at a young age, this event and others like it keep me connected to my essence,” McWatt told the audience at the Old Fire Station on Abercromby Street.