The National Library has invited inmates at four prisons it serves to participate in its Annual Essay and Short Story Competition this year.
In a press release, Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson said the programme started in its centennial year, 2009, with three categories of participants: 9-11 years; 12-14 years and 15-17 years. The feedback from participants was encouraging and in 2010 the number of participants increased.
Last year the 18-25 year category was added after numerous requests from the public and this year the competition will include participants from the Georgetown, Timehri, New Amsterdam prisons and Sibley Hall.
Thompson extended gratitude to P&P Insurance Brokers Director Bishwa Panday for his willing and continued sponsorship of the various competitions over the years. The library is particularly grateful to him for his commitment to sponsor the entire contest this year, in an effort to promote literacy in Guyana.
According to Thompson the library started the contest in keeping with its mandate to promote literacy in Guyana. Its main objectives were to foster a love for creative writing; to provide participants with a platform to express their feelings and ideas through creative writing and to encourage writing as a worthwhile pastime.
