WILLEMSTAD – Poet and linguist Ini Statia will unveil her second trilingual poetry collection, At the Edge of My Island / Na rant di mi isla / Aan de rand van mijn eiland, on September 25, 2026, at the Mongui Maduro Library. This event will feature a blend of poetry readings, panel discussions, dance, singing, live music, and audience participation.

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The presentation will occur on the terrace of the Mongui Maduro Library, located behind Landhuis Rooi Catootje. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m., with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Following her first collection, In naam der liefde, released in 2022, Statia returns with this new work that includes poetry in Papiamentu, Dutch, and English. Each poem is presented first in its original language, followed by translations into the other two languages. The translations were handled by Lucille Berry-Haseth for Papiamentu, and Mario Kleinmoedig and Statia for Dutch, with Mikayla Vieira Ribeiro translating into English.

The sea is a prominent theme throughout the poems, as Statia examines the bond between islanders and the ocean, the unique experience of island living, ancestral connections, and cultural exchanges beyond Curaçao. Her poetry reflects a mix of Caribbean, Latin American, African, and European cultural influences.

Born in 1952 in Aruba to Bonairean parents, Statia has lived on all three ABC islands. She studied Dutch Language and Literature at the University of Groningen, later focusing on her mother tongue, Papiamentu. Besides Papiamentu and Dutch, she speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Statia has extensive teaching experience in Aruba and Curaçao and has contributed to Papiamentu-language educational materials through her involvement with Fundashon pa Planifikashon di Idioma (FPI), the Foundation for Language Planning.

The event will include a panel discussion with poets, writers, and translators Richenel Ansano, Mikayla Ribeiro, and Crisèn Schorea, discussing the significance of the sea in their work and lives. Audience members will also have the chance to participate in an interactive quiz based on Statia's title poem, Na rant di mi isla, where they can identify literary references within the poem for a chance to win a prize.

Additional cultural features of the program will include performances by singer Cindica Rouse, dancer Rudsel d’Antonia, and live steelpan music by Henny Cornelia.

The publication of At the Edge of My Island was partially funded by the Cultuurfonds Caribisch Gebied. Copies of the book will be available during the launch for a special price of XCG 35, with payments accepted in cash or via online bank transfer only, as pin payments will not be available. After the Curaçao launch, further presentations of the new collection are planned across the Kingdom of the Netherlands.