In its quest to rekindle a love for reading among young children, the National Library will, on Monday, commence a Champion Readers competition to involve young people countrywide.According to Chief Librarian, Ms Gillian Thompson, the reading competition, which comes as part of the 100th anniversary of the library’s existence, is an effort to make reading more attractive to children of all ages.About two weeks ago an orientation session was held at the library’s conference room where the youths who have been selected to participate in the competition were enlightened as to what is expected of them.Ms Thompson said that the competition, which will be divided into three age categories (12-14, 15-17, 18-20),Cheap Air Max Tn Shoes, will feature oral and written segments. Persons in each of the age categories will be tasked with reading six books on which the competition will focus.Chief Librarian, Gillian ThompsonThompson said that the youths will be judged on the basis of fluency, dramatic effect, how well they know the books — their plots and style — and general comprehension of the text. Other key factors are scrutinised.The finals of the competition are slated for August 7, when the three winners of the respective categories will be awarded for their performances.The first place winners are guaranteed a total of $50,Cheap NBA Jerseys China,000, a local trip and a book award; second place winners are expected to secure for themselves $30,000, a trophy and a book award; while the third place winners will receive $20,000, a trophy and a book award.According to Thompson, the focus on reading has been recognised as one of the primary ways to stimulate a reading interest among young people. She observed that the love for reading has diminished over the years, a trend the library is working to reverse.She related that the library intends to increase its membership at its locations countrywide.The library’s anniversary observance,Cheap China Jerseys, according to Margaret Eastman, commenced with a church service and was emphasised on Republic Day when the library participated in the Mashramani Float Parade depicting the library as the literacy lifeline of Guyana.A Quiz competition for primary and secondary schools had also been engaged. It saw the students being questioned about the history and geography of Guyana.According to Eastman, through the quizzes it was expected that the young people will learn more about the National Library; recognise the library as one of the main information centres in Guyana; become more knowledgeable about their country’s rich history and its geography; develop a love for and loyalty to their country; become familiar with the names of Guyanese and Caribbean writers and their works and develop enthusiasm for creative writing.Among the primary level schools that participated in those competitions were St Agnes, St Angela’s,Brett Favre Falcons Jersey, West Ruimveldt,Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Arsenal Jersey UK, Winfer Gardens, Stella Maris, St Gabriel’s, North Georgetown and F. E. Pollard.Slated to compete in the secondary level were Tutorial, Brickdam, Christ Church, North Ruimveldt Multilateral, North Georgetown, Charlestown, St Joseph, and Richard Ishmael Secondary Schools.Among the several other activities which will be engaged are debating competitions, a photographic exhibition, essay and short story competitions, hosting of school tours of the library,Wholesale China Jerseys, a health walk and day of sport.According to Eastman, all of the students who emerge champions at the competitions will be featured in a special magazine, which is intended to show the progress of the National Library over the years.The observance, Eastman said, is slated to culminate in September at which point persons who have worked for 10 years or more with the National Library will be honoured.

The Guyana Police Force is reportedly moving with its annual promotions, despite concerns by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee about the absence of integrity testing and that some of the beneficiaries might still have pending disciplinary matters.Rohee at a press conference yesterday expressed reservations that the impending announcement of the police promotions lists is going ahead without much consideration for a policy directive by former President Donald Ramotar,Cheap Jerseys USA, which was given a month before he was ousted from office by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change.Rohee, in addressing three areas of concern related to the professionalism and reforms of the Guyana Police Force, reminded that former President Ramotar in addressing the Opening Session of the Annual Officers’ Conference of the Guyana Police Force last year had announced that persons tipped for promotion will require integrity testing.He said that Ramotar had emphasized that the move was aimed at weeding out corrupt persons from the law enforcement agency.“In future, for appointment to some senior positions there must be some form of integrity testing,” Ramotar had said.According to Rohee, since then, there has been no indication whether the Granger-led administration has taken up the mantle and proceeded in that direction.Former Home Affairs Minister Clement RoheeHe said that moreover, little or nothing is known about a number of disciplinary matters that have been before the Police Service Commission for sometime now.This is in addition to several disciplinary matters that are before a Disciplinary Authority that was set up by Rohee himself,Wholesale Jerseys China, and headed by former Senior Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.Sullivan’s contract was terminated earlier this year by the new government, and as a result the work of the Authority ended prematurely,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, thus placing in limbo those disciplinary matters that should be addressed urgently in the interest of the Force.Rohee referred specifically to Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine, with whom he had a public spat after Ramnarine spoke out about his interference in the operations of the Guyana Police Force.Kaieteur News understands that Ramnarine, who has been an Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Police for the past six years, is earmarked to replace Seelall Persaud as the Commissioner of Police and has reportedly been recommended for the post of Deputy Commissioner.Rohee is of the view that Ramnarine is one whose upward mobility should be delayed pending the outcome of the disciplinary action that he himself had recommended.“It is to be recalled that a disciplinary matter concerning Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine is among several disciplinary matters slated for consideration at the level of the Disciplinary Authority. Concerns have been expressed about persons whose disciplinary matters are yet to be heard and who have not been subjected to integrity tests, being promoted in 2016,” Rohee said.But according to information received by this newspaper, no disciplinary action was instituted against Ramnarine.“The records will show that former Commissioner Brumell had written to Ramnarine and Ramnarine responded, and that was the end of the matter. There is no record that Ranmarine was written to or summoned by any disciplinary body, either the Police Service Commission or this disciplinary body Rohee is talking about,” a senior police officer told this newspaper.And besides, the Force has vacancies for four Deputy Commissioners of Police, who can be chosen from among the several Assistant Commissioners.The two most senior Assistant Commissioners of Police are Balram Persaud and Ramnarine.Persaud has been an Assistant Commissioner for the past eight years, four of which have been served in the Deputy Commissioner (Admin) portfolio, without the benefits of that senior position.Ramnarine has been an AC for six years and has been serving in the Deputy Commissioner (Operations) position without the benefits.The force is expected to announce its promotions in three days’ time.Rohee at his press conference yesterday also touched on remarks made by President Granger at the annual breakfast at the Force Headquarters on Tuesday December 16, where he is reported to have told his audience; “The Minister of Public Security is obliged to report to Cabinet every single Tuesday morning on the state of the Police Force and on their success in overcoming the crime problem. We haven’t told the police you are paid to do a job go ahead and do it. We sit down and plan and strategize to make sure that Guyana can become a safe country for all our citizens.”The former Home Affairs Minister said that this statement is in stark contrast to the public positi