It is never too late to become an avid reader. This was the message given to residents of the St Jude's School for Girls, Belmont, by Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism Nela Khan. Khan spoke yesterday at the opening of the institution's new library. It was provided by the National Library and Information Systems Authority (Nalis) under the purview of the library's executive director Annette Wallace and director of Public Library Division Diane Simeon.
Khan, in delivering the feature address, quoted an old adage "knowledge is power" as she congratulated Nalis for responding to the request for securing a library at the girls' school. She reiterated the Government's commitment to support lifelong reading and to encourage reading as a past-time for the citizens of T&T.
Education co-ordinator of the St Jude's, Grace King, enlightened the gathering with the work being done with the girls. "We take care of their spiritual, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional and social aspects of their life," King said.
Guests were entertained by the girls of the school who displayed their talents by way of dance, song and playing the national instrument of T&T, the steelpan. King added: "We try to sharpen their prowess in sports including cricket, boxing and netball."
Wallace compared the opening of the new library to giving birth. "This is the third library we have opened in correctional institutions and we intend to upgrade the library at the St Michael's Home for Boys by next year and one in the Maximum Security Prison in Golden Grove," Wallace said.
She added: "There is a clear correlation between crime and literacy... people in prisons read ten times more than people outside." She said the introduction of a new literacy programme at the nine established libraries throughout Trinidad would reduce idleness and encourage critical thinking among the youth.
"Don't stick, make use of the library," Wallace said.
–Reporting by Khadine Harvey.