Courts donates $30,000 to Georgetown Library

Thanks to furniture and appliance giants Courts, the Georgetown community will be the benefiting from the service of a public library once again.{{more}}

On Tuesday, March 13, Courts Marketing Officer Alexis John, along with Courts staff members, Minister of Housing Montgomery Daniel, Ministry of Education and library officials and others gathered at an old Georgetown Town Board Building, which in a few weeks time will be home to a community library.

With a donation of $30,000 from Courts, work will begin on the refurbishing of the building, which will include repainting and the installation of shelves and proper washroom facilities.

John, speaking at a short ceremony on Tuesday, said that the venture was part of the company’s Corporate Social responsibility project, and that Courts was extremely delighted to spearhead the initiative, which helps in the fight against illiteracy.

“Today we are here to transform the community of Georgetown. This is very dear to our hearts, and we see it very fitting that we enhance this facility here, which has been without a library for five or so years.”

He indicated that members of staff will have a vital role to play in the refurbishing of the building, which he said is the largest project being undertaken by the company to date, since its fourteen years’ of presence on the island.

“This is what we do at Courts; reach out to the communities; transforming lives,” he added.

Head of Libraries Michelle King, who pointed out that the Library in Georgetown was established in 1910, said that the building will be transformed into a dynamic agency where users can utilize the resources necessary to support their learning needs.

“We look forward to working with Courts St. Vincent Limited on this project, and with God’s blessings we hope this venture is a success, and when completed, the facility is visited by many persons, as knowledge is power.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Nicole Bonadie Baker also commended Courts on the project, and emphasised that her ministry has had a long working relationship with the appliance giant. “The company funds our annual reading competition which is aimed at improving the literary skills of our students throughout the system, and when we had the natural disaster Hurricane Tomas at the end of 2010, Courts was right by our side providing refrigerators and stoves to place into the shelters….”

Bonadie Baker also lauded Peace Corps volunteer Mary Daly who initiated the move towards getting a library reopened in the area.

“Mary Daly visited my office repeatedly over and over a period of months telling me ‘P.S, you need to get a library back in Georgetown.’”

Also commenting was Housing Minister Daniel, who hailed the library project as a major necessity in the area, and affirmed his ministry’s willingness to assist in any way possible.

The Ministry assisted in the relocation of a family who had lived in the building, after the floods of April 2011 to a more suitable location and made the property available for the library project.

The renovations, which are being undertaken by Décor Products, are expected to be completed by the end of the month.