THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on Wednesday distributed the Guyana Classics Collection to a number of libraries in order to enhance awareness of Guyana’s history through literature.

The donation, which took place in the Board Room of the Ministry of Culture, Main Street, saw recipients from the National Library, University of Guyana (UG) Library, CARICOM, Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the Parliament Library.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony expressed his delight at seeing so many books being produced in a short time. He disclosed that seven volumes of Cheddi Jagan’s speeches dating back from 1947 to 1987 have been completed. However, Minister Anthony noted that there is still a gap of three years, from 1987 to 1990, due to the misplacement of the Hansards (record of debates in parliament) which affected production. If found these Hansards will also be developed into volumes.

Anthony also pointed out that in the publication are the speeches of former Presidents of Guyana – Linden Forbes Burnham, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan. These speeches, he explained, were compiled with the help of the Hansards of the National Assembly.

“In addition to that we have also completed two volumes of President Burnham’s speeches in parliament and we are right now working on a third volume. We have completed two volumes of President Janet Jagan’s speeches,” Anthony informed.

Meanwhile, the Culture Ministry is aiming this year to complete the third volume of President Burnham’s speeches and hopes to commence the first volume of President Hoyte’s speeches.

AMERINDIAN LANGUAGES
According to Anthony, “We are, in a way, fulfilling those resolutions by being able to develop the Hansards and putting them into the book form. In addition to that, we have also started a series where we want to publish the dictionaries of our Amerindian languages.”

Speaking at the handing over ceremony also was Director of Culture, Dr. James Rose who noted that it was a Government initiative to ensure that both past and current written Guyanese literature is made available to all Guyanese. Dr Rose also pointed out that this publication project has broken all records of production as it has produced more of the series than any other collection.

The Culture Director said: “We have a commitment to ensuring that the collection is deposited in every public, and where necessary, private depository. The reason for doing this is that Guyana literature is important and it is an important aspect of the creative imagination of Guyanese. I think that if there is anything we should share with the general public is the literature of the nation.”

In July this year, a series of publications which are new books that would have been done last year will be added to the collection.

(By Sandy Agasen)