National Library of Jamaica ushers in its 40th Anniversary with signature events
The National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) has had a busy month hosting two of its signature events: the 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture, held on Sunday, March 3, and its World Poetry Day, Jamaica Celebration, held on Thursday, March 21. Both events were held at the Knutsford Court Hotel.
Debate was lively among participants of a heavy-weight panel discussion on Jamaica’s ongoing ‘crime problem’ at the 40th Anniversary NLJ Distinguished Lecture. The well-attended event featured a lecture by Professor Deborah Thomas, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas’ talk, ‘Memory, Archive and the Price of Forgetting’ addressed the importance of the collections of the National Library of Jamaica for learning from the events of the past.
The lecture was followed by a panel discussion with Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson; Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn; and columnist and Pastor, Rev. Dr. Devon Dick. Veteran journalist and attorney, Dionne Jackson Miller, served as moderator and led the panel through questions submitted by members of the audience.
During the vibrant discussion Llewellyn identified the reality of a culture that accommodates criminality as a major obstacle to enforcing the rule of law in some communities. She connected this to concerns about the effect of the popularity of a narrative that views the police force as inherently corrupt. The DPP’s comments were volleyed by Commissioner Anderson who spoke about crime at various levels of society, “I don’t think we’re good at telling the truth about things that happened…there’s the convenient truth and the truth”.
Members of the audience were also animated as they listened on. After the close of programme, several persons expressed the need for similar forums for open discussion on national issues.
Beverley Lashley, National Librarian, explained that “It is the aim of the lecture series is to bring the ‘best and brightest minds’ together in conversation to raise our gaze across the ‘big picture’ issues facing our society”. A videorecording of the 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture can be viewed through the website of the NLJ at www.nlj.gov.jm.