‘Read, for sheer enjoyment’
“AWESTRUCK!” was just one of many favourable comments coming out of the just-concluded 10th National Book Fair which was staged in Region Five at the Bath Bible Church, West Coast Berbice. The Fair was held on Thursday December 2 and Friday December 3, 2010, and organised by the Guyana Book Foundation and Partners. The partners at reference included Austin’s Book Services, The National Library, The National Documentation Centre, The University of Guyana Library (Tain Campus), Varqa Foundation, Free Press, the Department of Education, Region Five, and yours truly, now operating under the banner, Writers In Concert (WICK).

My booth displayed Guyanese books with an emphasis on books written by Berbicians, including ‘To Sir with Love’ by E. R. Braithwaite; ‘Corentyne Thunder’ by Edgar Mittelholzer; ‘From Berbice to Broadstairs’ by Maggie Harris; ‘From Ranji to Rohan’ by Clem Seecharan; and ‘The Intended’ by David Dabydeen.

All types of books from Guyana, the Caribbean and the wider world were on display and sale. 

When the book fair came to an end, some 33 schools, more than 500 students, and more than 50 teachers had experienced books in an unprecedented way.  They came from the far corners of the extensive Region Five. They came from the riverine areas, as far as St. Francis Mission, Abary and Mahaicony, some travelling by water from as early as 5am.  The Republic Bank, Rosignol Branch, ably assisted with transportation costs. Thank you, Republic Bank! Other forms of assistance came from CODE (Canadian Organisation for Development through Education) and CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency).
The Guyana Book Foundation, which was founded in 1990, is a not-for-profit NGO which has supported children’s literacy all over Guyana for almost eighteen years. Its objectives include providing “…reading materials for children, to increase the ability of children to read and learn, and to build capacity to support a literate environment in Guyana”. These objectives are executed by various methods and activities including:
•    The provision and distribution of local,  Caribbean, and North American donated books to schools and libraries;
•    the establishment of  community/school libraries;
•    the publishing of English and local language books and materials for children;
•    supporting the professional development of teachers, librarians and literacy workers in the teaching of reading; and 
•    building partnerships with NGOs and other organisations to promote and strengthen a literate environment for children.
The Guyana Book Foundation has its genesis in the organisation, Education Renewal, which was started in 1986. According to the Foundation’s website:
“…in 1986, a group of educators, led by Mrs. Olga Bone, Ms Mavis Pollard, Sister Hazel Campaign, Ms  Agnes Jones, together with volunteer tutors began holding free remedial classes in English and Mathematics for students in and around Georgetown, with subsequent grants from CAFOD (Catholic Agency For Overseas Development)and the Scarborough Fathers, this voluntary work in remedial classes for children was expanded to Linden, New Amsterdam, Leonora, Enmore and Buxton. Education Renewal was thus firmly established.

“Remedial classes were held up to the early 90’s when Education Renewal was additionally tasked with the responsibility of the distribution of shipments of books from the Canadian NGO, CODE.

“Education Renewal can be regarded as the forerunner of The Guyana Book Foundation, established in 1990 as a not-for-profit NGO and incorporated under the Companies Act. GBF’s main activity during the first years of its existence was book distribution to schools, a responsibility taken over from Education Renewal.”

So far, the Guyana Book Foundation has staged book fairs on the Corentyne, Essequibo, Uitvlugt, Linden, and, on a number of occasions, in Georgetown.

‘Awestruck’ would resonate in the mind of all who contributed to the success of the 10th annual book fair. ‘Read …for sheer enjoyment’ would resonate for a long, long, long time in the minds of all who experienced this 10th national book fair.

WHAT’S HAPPENING
•    Look out for A Festival of Words, and…
•    The launch of the second set of the Guyana Classics Library
(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)