THOMPSON family members, staffers of the National Library, Education Ministry personnel and other sympathisers Thursday evening participated in a candlelight vigil in honour of the late Chief Librarian, Ms Gillian Thompson, who was killed in an accident at the corner of North Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown, on December 24.The vigil, at the scene of the accident, saw scriptural verses being read and religious songs being sung.

Thompson was heading from her home to her office to join the National Library staff in embarking on a toy distribution exercise in a section of the city. She was at the time travelling in the vehicle owned by the library.

As her vehicle approached the junction of North Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, a speeding car heading north along Shiv Chanderpaul Drive slammed her vehicle into the rail of the nearby bridge, while the car ended up in the trench nearby.

Ms Thompson had been heading the National Library for some time, and her presence as chief librarian has spearheaded several innovative programmes at the country’s flagship library.
She will be laid to rest today. Her body will be available for viewing at Merriman’s Funeral Home at Lime and Bent Streets, Werk-en-Rust, from 12:30 hrs to 13:00 hrs. The body will then be moved to the Trinity Methodist Church at Leopold and High Streets for tributes at 13:30 hrs, prior to burial at the Methodist Church ground at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Written By Leroy Smith