“Lamio: Stories and Poems” by Tadzio Yuko Bervoets, published by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP) in November.
PHILIPSBURG--Environmentalist Tadzio Yuko Bervoets has added author to his professional credentials with the release of his debut book, “Lamio: Stories and Poems”, a 174-page collection of fiction and poetry published by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
The collection brings together short stories and poems, including the title story, “Lamio”, which explores a descent into madness involving several characters. HNP President Jacqueline Sample said the story was substantial enough to stand as a book on its own. Other stories include “Cecile”, a love story set in post-revolutionary Haiti, and “Trevor”, a tourism thriller set at a beachfront hotel in Great Bay, St. Maarten.
Sample said the publication would come as a surprise to some readers, noting that Bervoets had occasionally published poetry before bringing the collection together. Literature professor Christina Kullberg described the work as a blend of prose and poetry, with dreamlike voices reflecting Caribbean heritage and connections between human and nonhuman ancestors. Her assessment also highlighted the collection’s themes of beauty, brutality, care and hope.
Bervoets is widely known for his work in coral reef conservation and marine management, which has taken him from Tanzania to Bermuda. He is also a speaker at Caribbean conferences, where he shares his expertise on sharks, marine ecology and conservation.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His work in coral reef conservation, marine park management and regional environmental leadership includes being part of the team that established the St. Maarten Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area.
Bervoets co-founded the Caribbean Shark Coalition and serves as director of the Alligator Head Foundation in Jamaica. His literary work has also appeared in several publications, including “Where I See the Sun: Contemporary Poetry in St. Martin” (2013), “Writing for Our Lives: A Caribbean Climate Justice Anthology” (2025) and the Barbados-based “BIM: Arts for the 21st Century” (2025).
“Lamio: Stories and Poems” is available at Arnia’s Bookstore, located at the Zagersgut Road-Bush Road junction in St. Maarten. The book is expected to become available online through libroslatinos.com.
