Dr. Ivelaw Griffith’s fictional debut examines the impact of drug trafficking in the Caribbean

Renowned academic and political scientist Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith has released his debut novel, “Sylvie’s Love and Loss,” a gripping narrative set in the heart of the Caribbean. The story explores love, resilience, betrayal, and redemption against Grenada’s vibrant culture and complex social climate.

The story follows a character named ‘Sylvie,’ a determined young woman forced into adulthood after being abandoned by her parents. She works at a hotel, where she falls in love with a charming Canadian guest and dreams of a new life in Canada. However, her aspirations are shattered when an affair with a Captain spirals into betrayal, imprisonment, and deportation. Returning to Grenada, Sylvie must rebuild her life while facing fresh challenges and temptations that test her resolve.

The novel’s narrative spans multiple countries, including Guyana, Jamaica, Canada, and Venezuela, reflecting the far-reaching impacts of drug trafficking and personal struggle. Dr. Griffith, widely recognized for his work on national security and drug trafficking in the Caribbean, draws on his expertise to shed light on the region’s socioeconomic realities and cultural richness. “When I was researching a scholarly book in 1994, I met a young woman in Grenada who shared her story of being deported for drug trafficking. Her experiences inspired me to explore the complexities of drugs, family struggles, and resilience through fiction,” Dr. Griffith said.

Originally titled “Victims,” the novel highlights how drug trafficking victimizes individuals and societies while also offering a message of redemption. Dr. Griffith wanted to reveal “the Caribbean’s layered reality — the love and loss, the highs and lows, and the resilience within its communities.”

Released in September, Sylvie’s Love and Loss has received praise from notable Caribbean literary figures, including Harold Bascom and David Abedin. Professor Terrence Richard Blackman of Medgar Evers College, CUNY, described the novel as “a gripping narrative that takes the reader through an emotional and cultural voyage across the Caribbean’s heart. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith crafts a story that is as much about the personal journeys of its characters as it is about the broader social and political landscapes of the Caribbean.”

Dr. Griffith, who retired in 2019, has held prominent academic positions, including President of Fort Valley State University, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, and Provost at Virginia and New York universities. He is the author of nine scholarly books, including “Drugs and Security in the Caribbean: Sovereignty Under Siege (1997),” and has testified before the U.S. Congress. Dr. Griffith has been recognized with the William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education.

“Sylvie’s Love and Loss” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and GoodReads.