Books: A Key to our Growth and Development
THE MEDIA houses cannot cover everything, and so sometimes a good story goes abegging.
This was the case with the Guyana Book Foundation’s 10th Annual Book Fair which was held in Bartica, Region Seven, during the 2nd and 3rd November, 2011 at the Bartica Resource Centre.
It was the season of religious holidays; it was the season of the GT&T Jingle and Song Competition; it was the season for general and regional elections; and Christmas was in the air.
However, in my book, any venture to promote reading, encourage and sustain a reading culture is paramount to growth and development of a people. So I cannot let this go easily.
The Guyana Book Foundation (GBF), funded by CODE/CIDA, collaborated with seven organisations (Austin’s Book Services, the National Library, Varqa Foundation, The University of Guyana Library, Hope Foundation, VSO and the Department of Education, Region Seven) to exhibit under the theme:  Books: A Key to our Growth and Development.
The book fair was one of the Foundation’s yearly activities to bring children and books together; books for the stimulation and enjoyment of reading, and which are not ordinarily within children’s reach.
Participating organisations exhibited a wide range of books:  Relevant and appropriate local, Caribbean and North American children’s reading books at all levels; teacher’s resources; parent’s guides for the teaching of reading; fiction for the young  and adults;  Classics for Boys and Girls; books for reluctant readers; and some supplementary text books.
GBF launched at the book fair two of its recent publications,  ‘The Discovery’,  by UK-based Guyanese writer and poet, Grace Nichols; and ‘Waldorf the Water-drop’, by Pamela O’Toole, and read to the children under the reading tent by VSO Shelly Dixon.
Over 120 children and citizens from Bartica, together with GBF Board of Directors and invitees attended the opening ceremony where speakers included the Regional Chairman, Holbert Knights, and Bishop Francis Alleyne who gave the keynote address.
Over 560 children and 28 teachers from 13 schools viewed the exhibits, purchased books and participated in the activities, including a reading tent, managed by the VSOs. The attendance of children from six riverine schools was made possible by the Regional Administration which supplied the boats for their transportation.
That the children (and adults) were interested in and appreciated this event was evident in their comments and desire to have such an activity more often in their community.
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
·    Establishment of  community/school libraries
·    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.” (Guyana Book Foundation website)
The Guyana Book Foundation has its genesis in an 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 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.”
GBF has hosted in the past years, Book Fairs in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. This 2011 Annual National Book Fair held in Region Seven, Bartica, the 10th since the practice of holding the Annual National Book Fair started, has fulfilled the objective of bringing the Book Fair to as many regions as possible within the country, and stimulating the culture of reading.

WHAT’S HAPPENING:
Coming soon to the Guyana bookshelf: ‘Lantana Strangling Ixora’, a new collection of poems by Sasenarine Persaud. This eleventh book by Persaud was recently launched in the USA. He is the author of eight collections of poems, two novels, and one collection of short fiction.
Sasenarine Persaud is an essayist, poet, novelist and short-fiction writer. He was born in Guyana, lived for a while in Canada, and now resides in the USA.

(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)