National Library exhibition features women writers of significance

THE Resources and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, in collaboration with the National Library, has launched an exhibition highlighting Guyanese women writers who would have made a significant contribution to the country’s literary arts.

The four-day display, at the National Library, in Church Street, started on Tuesday and continues through May 31, with the focus on 50 of Guyana’s known women writers.
Among them are Pauline Melville, who was the first Guyanese writer to be awarded a Commonwealth Prize for Literature; Oonya Kempadoo, who has been cited internationally as being a great talent of the 21st century; and the late Beryl Gilroy, one of the oldest Guyanese authors who has made a great impact on the international scene, particularly in the United States.
Representative of the Resources and Documentation Centre, Yvonne Stephenson, explained that the exhibition is aimed at encouraging other women to write and youngsters to continue writing until they are recognised.
She noted that there are many women who write and are not known, and as well, there are persons who are not aware of the known writers in our society, therefore, the need for such a show.
Stephenson expressed her sincere thanks to the staff of the National Library for assisting in making the event a reality since they were given very short notice.

TIMELY
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Patrick Findlay, who spoke on behalf of Minister Jennifer Webster at the launch, said the occasion is timely as Guyana is celebrating 48 years as an independent nation and that the environment created by displaying the skills, talents and creativity of Guyanese women writers speaks to the fact that the country’s development goes far beyond economics and technology.
He said the occurrence has presented the public with the most talented writers who would have tremendously impacted on the way persons see themselves and, in some instances, helped to understand the Guyanese society.
“No doubt we need engineers, accountants, economists, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs but, equally, we need creative writers who will produce a corps of writing, a body of literature we could call our own,” Findlay said.
He continued: “The women we are saluting today are, without a doubt, expanding our literary horizon both at home and further afield. We are proud of them, their outstanding creativity, their creative minds and their brilliance in telling their stories have earned some of them awards in a highly competitive arena.”
Another speaker on the programme was Acting Chief Librarian, Emily King, who expressed delight at being a part of such a showing because the National Library is presently engaged in a campaign to create general awareness of the literary Guyanese writers.
She said this will also give youths the opportunity to see what Guyanese writers have contributed in the literary field.
Other writers featured include Sherene Nobe, Mahadai Das, Maya Tiwari, Stephanie Bowri, Lynette Dolphin, Grace Nichols, Rose Magdalen-Daniels, Brenda Harris, Jennifer Trotman-Smith, Elly Niland, Cassia Alphonso, Varalie Joseph and Julia Theresa Kanhai.
The National Library would like to encourage all persons, especially students, to view the exhibits.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)