In commemoration of International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on September 8, the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) collaborated with the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications (OPMC) to coordinate readings at several libraries across the country by Members of Parliament (MP), police officers, library staff and other prominent members of the community.  International Literacy Day highlights the importance of literacy and education for personal development and societal progress.

Primary school students were captivated by the animated readings at the Arima Public Library by MPs Penelope Beckles and Lisa Morris-Julian; at the St Helena Community Library by MP Dr Rishad Seecheran; at the Point Fortin Public Library by MP Kennedy Richards Jr and at the Lower Morvant Governemnt Primary School by MP Adrian Leonce.

WPC Crissann Rique and Constable Timothy Noel read at the Sangre Grande and Beetham Gardens libraries, respectively.  Dr Peter Smith, Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education engrossed the children at the Mt Hope/Mt Lambert Community Library and at the Port of Spain Children’s Library, Jasmin Simmons, NALIS’ Director, Heritage Library Division had the little ones enthralled with sing-along stories.  Library staff facilitated dramatic readings at the Couva, Maloney, Rio Claro, Roxborough, Scarborough and the St James public libraries; the San Fernando West Indian Reference Library and the San Fernando North and Barataria community libraries.

Providing giveaways of colouring notebooks and pencil cases to students attending the readings at all venues were sponsors, the Government Printery and Trinre Insurance Company Limited.

The readings on International Literacy were preceded by the release of a media campaign conceputalised by OPMC and NALIS, which promote reading and writing, numerical, digital, health, financial, media and information, and cultural literacies. Several prominent professionals gave freely of their time to participate in the 2023 International Literacy Day initiatives under the theme: ‘Promoting Literacy for a World in Transition: Building the Foundation for Sustainable and Peaceful Societies.’

The Honourable Penelope Beckles, Member of Parliament for Arima and Minister of Planning and Development reads on International Literacy Day at the Arima Public Library

The Honourable Lisa Morris – Julian, Member of Parliament for D’Abadie/O’Meara and Minister in the Ministry of Education, reads at the Arima Public Library on International Literacy Day. She presents a child his gift for attending.

Member of Parliament for Point Fortin, the Honourable Kennedy Richards Jr at the Point Fortin Public Library.

The Honourable Adrian Leonce with students of the Lower Morvant Government Primary School on International Literacy Day.

Dr the Honourable Rishad Seecheran, MP for Caroni East at the St Helena Community Library on International Literacy Day.