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(St. Ann’s Bay Jamaica) (March18, 2014) Officials at the Japanese Embassy in Kingston will on Wednesday March 19, 2014 welcome stakeholders affiliated with the construction of a public library in the community of Alexandria St. Ann. The Embassy and the St. Ann Parish Council will participate in a contract signing ceremony slated to commence at 9:30am to make available fifty eight thousand eight hundred and twelve US dollars (US$58, 812) granted for the completion of a library in Alexandria.
Residents in the Alexandria community have been without a library for over 6 years, due to fire destroying the Library that originally served the community. The current construction of the new library is the brainchild of sitting Councillor for the Alexandria Divison, Mr. Gilbert McLeod. Currently there are a number of public schools in close proximity to Alexandria that are forced to do without a library. Residents are experiencing grave challenges with obtaining library services to conduct research, complete assignments etc. The closest such facility is located in the Brown’s Town community approximately 10 miles from Alexandria. The process to obtain land and funding for the construction and completion has been a very worthwhile one for all stakeholders involved. The land which houses the unfinished building was donated by the Noranda Bauxite Company in St. Ann and the Jamaica Bauxite Institute has contributed funds to aid with the initial construction of the building.
The Council and other stakeholders recognized the importance of accessing library services to continue/advance the education of residents and as such sought funding from the Grassroots and Human Security Grant from the Japanese Embassy. The Council will serve as the implementing agency for the duration of the project and will hand over the completed building to the Jamaica Library Service that will manage its operations under their umbrella.
The ceremony will be attended by: Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay Councilor Desmond Gilmore, Secretary Manager of the St. Ann Parish Council, Mr. Alfred Graham, Chairman of the St. Ann Parish Library Committee, former Custos of St. Ann Honourable Radcliffe Walters, Parish Manager for the Social Development Commission, Mr. Richardo Aiken, Chairman of the Jamaica Library Board, Mr. Paul Lalor among others.