– Literacy is the key to enhancement to the state of all humanity, production and productivity -Dr. Rupert Roopnarine

DIRECTOR of Public Service Training within the Ministry of the Presidency, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has reiterated a call he has made many times over, for the re-doubling of efforts to combat illiteracy and place our society on a trajectory of development and `The Good Life’, noting that literacy is the key to the enhancement of the state of all humanity, production and productivity.

He was at the time addressing a Literacy and Human Rights Workshop, hosted by the Rights of the Child Commission(ROC), attended by students from various secondary schools, members of the Rights of the Child Commission (ROC) and other stakeholders; at the Grand Coastal Hotel at Plantation Le Ressouvenir, East Coast, Demerara, on Monday, in observance of World Literacy Day, which is observed on September 08, annually.

Dr. Roopnaraine, who once served as this country’s Minister of Education, reminded the audience of mainly youths who had participated in the Youth Ambassadorship Programme, that Guyana once boasted of its high level of literacy, and its decline has seen the government spending a large portion of its national budget on trying to sustain the highest level of literacy and seeking to eradicate illiteracy completely.

He said too, that illiteracy continues to pose a challenge here in Guyana and beyond, and suggested that the causes, factors or the programmes for its prevention and eradication are still to be determined and respected respectively.

“Eradication of illiteracy is at the centre of creating an educated nation and is also the centre of alleviating problems relating to crime, abuse and suicide among other ills,” he pointed out.

It will therefore require an inter-sectorial or a demographic approach to the problem and statistics must be used to identify the magnitude and concentration of the problem and a holistic approach to the resolution applied, he said.

Noting that 50 years ago the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) spearheaded the celebration of World Literacy Day, Dr. Roopnaraine made reference to the definition of literacy, adding that it is the greatest enabler of the delivery of education and is therefore viewed as the kernel of a civilised society. Since then, International Literacy Day celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of its importance as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society
Dr. Vindhya Persaud, PPP/C Member of Parliament, said literacy means much more than the ability to read and write, as it allows for a person to envisage competence in various skills, honing of abilities to be able to function and grasp and assimilate, so that one day, they will be able to lead lives where they are confident in themselves.

Promoting literacy, is also about promoting confidence, as to be literate and be able to read and write and to express, absorb and open the minds to so many things around the world, one has to open their minds to be their best self, to be purposeful and meaningful by opening the mind to attributes and everything that is necessary.

A highlight of the event was the announcement of Eion Henry and Jeremy Fraser, as the Youth Ambassador Award 2019 and the Best Camper Youth Award 2019, resulting from a camp which was held at Baganara, in the Essequibo River.

Omar Panday, Chief Executive Officer and ROC Leadership Advocate and Motivational Speaker, in announcing the winners explained that the Youth Ambassadorship Programme is premised on Article 12 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, which states that children are young people, they are not mere objects for indoctrination but that they should be participants in the process of youth empowerment and education.
Participants were drawn from all the 10 administrative regions and comprised youths from all walks of life. The youth ambassadors are then trained in the areas of personal, community and national development. The first camp was held at Santa Mission.
In particular, the announcement of Henry as the Youth Ambassador 2019, was met with resounding applause from the audience, when it was disclosed that prior to being on the programme, he at age 13, found himself on the wrong side of the law and spent seven years in incarceration.

Initially he was held at the Sophia Holding Centre before being transferred to the Camp Street jail and subsequently to the Timehri Prison.

Panday who first came into contact with Henry in 2015, said he along with the ROC and a lawyer for the Legal Aid Centre, was instrumental in helping Henry, who continued to be detained although the justice system had found no evidence against him.

Henry, since gaining his freedom, and whose desire is to be educated has since completed a course in welding and fabrication as well as a course in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at the Sophia Training Centre, where he was the Best Graduating Student.

He is now attending the Government Technical Institute where he is studying Metal Work and Engineering and hopes upon completion to move on to the University of Guyana.
Henry was presented with a trophy by Dr. Roopnaraine, while Fraser received his from Dr. Persaud.

A collection of selected texts from the library of Mr. Omar Panday were on display at the event, which also featured poetry reading.