Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
National Library, P&P Insurance take literacy to the prisons
The National Library and P&P Insurance Brokers recently launched their 2012 Annual Essay and Short Story Competition.
Mrs. Margaret Eastman, co-ordinator of the competition said that the National Library held its first Essay and Short Story Competition in its centennial year 2009, in keeping with its mandate to promote literacy in Guyana.
The main objectives were to afford participants the opportunity to express their feelings and ideas through creative writing; foster a love for creative writing; and encourage writing as a worthwhile pastime.
The competition began with three categories of participants, 9-11 years, 12-14 years and 15-17 years. The feedback was encouraging and in 2010, there was a significant increase in the number of entries.
In 2011, the 18-20 years category was introduced as a result of requests from the public. In this year also, there was part sponsorship from P&P Insurance Brokers & Consultants Limited which has always supported the library in its many activities.
“This year, we have extended the competition to include the four prisons served by the National Library, Georgetown, Timehri, New Amsterdam and Sibley Hall/Mazaruni and they are quite happy,” said Bish Panday of Pand P Insurance Brokers.
Of great significance, this year, is that Mr. Panday of P&P Insurance Brokers has decided to sponsor the entire competition. “We must commend P&P for this step as it would help the Library immensely in its effort to promote literacy in Guyana,” said Mrs Eastman.
Mr. Bish Panday said that P&P was happy to fully sponsor this year’s Annual Short Story and Essay Competition being held by the National Library. He noted that P and P has a proud record of community involvement and this was another manifestation of its support.
Mr. Panday noted that the competition targets four categories of youths from as young as nine years to 20 years. The library was commended for encouraging young persons to write, which hopefully would encourage them to read something that is not happening as much as it should.
He said that the benefit of reading is too numerous to mention, but it helps persons to be able to express themselves, improves their vocabulary and certainly makes them more confident in carrying on a discussion.
During the presentation ceremony, previous winners read from their winning entries. These were Candacie Holder (9-11) Ashieka Francois (15-17) and Subraj Singh (18-25)
In addition, Roylex Holder (9-11) and Subraj Singh (18-25) spoke of the benefits of the competition. In their view, it improves participants’ ability to write clearly, think creatively and it also improves their vocabulary.
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