As part of the 170th anniversary celebration of the purchase of Plaisance by freed slaves, the Eddy Grant Resource Centre, housing the community’s first library was launched yesterday in the bottom flat of the Plaisance/Sparendaam Friendly Society Hall.
The commissioning of the $5 million resource centre is part of the list of activities planned for the next two months by the Plaisance/Sparendaam and Goedverwagting Development Association to mark the milestone of the village. The centre comprises a library, office, living quarters, storeroom and washroom facilities and has created employment for two young women who will serve as librarians.
Residents of the community will benefit from the free use of the 800 books that have been donated along with chairs, printers, computers and tables.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Inter-American Bank-funded Citizen Security Programme donated all of the equipment to the facility, except the books, as part of its Rapid Impact Project, through which it advances community development.
Coordinator of the project, Beryl Haynes, said things have changed for the community which has been without a library for over 30 years. Through the generous contributions of villagers, Eddy Grant and the Plaisance New York Group, she added, the creation of the Resource Centre was successful. She said that the building was named after the international Guyanese recording artiste in recognition of his ambassadorial activity for his country Guyana in addition to his many contributions to the community as a whole over the past years.
Guess speaker at the event, Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, said programmes should be put in place to connect young people with the present. Stating that the young generation was not being properly informed about history, he said, “I encourage persons here today to pass on the knowledge about the history of their village and country to the young generation.”
Eddy Grant, who was absent from the ceremony, was represented by his wife, Ann Grant, who told the gathering after the cutting of the ribbon that she hoped that the facility will help many eager minds to change the world for the better.
As persons awaited the arrival of Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, the Tina Insanally Bosco Steel Orchestra provided lively steel pan music. Rohee, who was invited to tour the facility on arrival, said it would serve the purpose of bringing people together. He said “one of the social responsibilities of persons is to give back to the community while encouraging them to take advantage of what the centre has to offer.” (Mandy Thompson)
