GUYANA- Guyana’s Parliamentary Library is almost entirely digitized, renamed after the former Clerk

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – As part of a series of activities to commemorate its 70th anniversary, the Parliament of Guyana on Friday opened its library, which was named after one of its former clerks, Frank Narain.

The library, previously housed in the dome of the Parliament buildings, is now situated on the ground floor of the western end of the building.

It is now 90 percent digitized and contains documents detailing the country’s parliamentary practices and procedures, such as its Standing Orders and history.

Delivering remarks during a ceremony on Friday, former Clerk of the National Assembly, Frank Narain, said the event marks the revival of a “very long, outstanding” matter.

“I happen to be the bearer of the name chosen for the library…I am the person upon whom that very great honor is being bestowed.

“I could have played only a part in establishing the library…Many other persons were also involved, But I alone have been specially selected to be given this great honor today of having my name associated with the library,” Narain added.

Also speaking at the event was Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who noted that Narain served the Parliament with distinction and has been a repository of information, knowledge, and wisdom regarding parliamentary practices and procedures.

I think it is indeed fitting that an area of the Parliament earmarked to contain a repository of wisdom carries your name because it is pivotal to any Parliamentarian life if one would like to have the kind of caliber of debates that we want to see in our National Assembly, we must be well informed, well researched and have the benefit of all the information housed in the library,” Dr. Persaud said.

Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan said there had been a rapid library evolution as he urged Parliamentarians to use it.

“…With the internet days today, you can go find and Google a lot of things that you can find in the library, but, fundamentally, we utilize the library as fully as possible,” Ramjattan said.

Narain is the longest-serving parliamentary official in Guyana’s history. He served in public service for 51 years, 36 of which he held the post of Clerk of the National Assembly until his retirement in 2002 at 70.

Current Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir and several former speakers, including Raphael Trotman and Dr. Barton Scotland, were honored for their service. They were each presented with a plaque.