The Parliamentary Library

How did the Parliamentary Library acquire its first set of source documents?

Mr. Frank A. Narain, CCH., has been associated with the work and records of the legislature of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana from 1951 to 2002. The transition of the country’s legislature from the colonial days in the colonial secretary’s office to the establishment of the Parliament Office in 1953; to internal self-Government; to Independence; to Republican status. He was involved in compiling and producing and keeping these same records that are now part of the Parliamentary Library.

Several Parliamentary records and documents were brought over in 1953 from the Colonial Secretary’s Office of the Legislature. These documents included the bound volumes of Oaths of Office, Official Gazettes, Resolutions, Messages, Sessional Papers, Ordinances, Subsidiary legislation, Public Sector Estimates, and Parliamentary debates of the British House of Commons and the House of Lords, etc. As the years went by, additional documents were produced, kept, and maintained.

How was the Parliamentary Library formed?

In 1992, the then Clerk of the National Assembly Mr. Frank A. Narain, C.C.H., made a request to the President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, due to an influx of Parliamentary documents and limited space, to make the Public Buildings available for Parliamentary matters. After the Parliament Office gained such authority, a Parliamentary Library was established on the ground floor of the western wing after much consideration. After several discussions with US AID and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), Mr. Frank A. Narain, C.C.H., received funding for the establishment of the Parliamentary Library. The National Democratic Institute (NDI), a non-governmental organization was tasked with the responsibility for the project. The project included the demolition and conversion of the wing to make it suitable for a Library setting.

The team that established the Parliamentary Library consisted of the following members:

  1. Mr. Frank A. Narain, Clerk of the National Assembly
  2. Mr. Sherlock E. Isaacs, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly
  3. Ms. Deborah Ullmer, Director, National Democratic Institute
  4. Ms. Doreen E. Holder, Library Consultant (Deputy Librarian, University of Guyana)
  5. Mr. Paul Adams, Legislative Assistant, National Democratic Institute

The following persons formed the first staff of the Parliamentary Library:

  1. Ms. Doreen E. Holder, Library Advisor (Deputy Librarian, University of Guyana)
  2. Ms. Michelle Singh, Librarian III
  3. Mr. Eaton Mackenzie, Librarian II
  4. Ms. Tanzadell Bentick, Book Repair Assistant
  5. Ms. Nicola Wray, Maid/ Cleaner

Although arrangements were made and a program was proposed for the formal opening of the Parliamentary Library, it has still not been officially opened and named.  However, its services are available and used by Members of Parliament, Government Agencies, and members of the Public.

With the establishment of the Parliamentary Library in the year 2003. Ms. Doreen E. Holder, Library Advisor, conducted several training sessions with staff. After Ms. Holder’s contractual agreement came to an end, Ms. Hermina Gilgeours – Research and Analytical Assistant performed the functions of the Head of the Library.  Thereafter, Ms. Gilgeours was promoted to the Assistant Clerk of the National Assembly and was succeeded by Mr. Michael G. Munroe, Documentation and Research Officer and Head of the Library. Mr. Munroe held that position for 16 years before his demise on 24th February 2022. During his time at the Parliament Office, Mr. Munroe trained the staff under his supervision and developed the services offered to Members of Parliament; increased the staff component, recommended training for the Researchers, and created the Library Archives. After his demise, Mr. Eton Moses, Documentation and Preparation Officer, took up the post as Head of the Library and has since continued to update the records and execute the duties of the position.

 The library is a Reference Library; hence, it does not lend books or any other materials to be taken out of the library, and to date, has preserved laws and documentation from as early as 1929. This department houses two sections:

  • The Library Services Unit- This unit is manned by a staff of four (4) who provide library services to all Members of Parliament and to the public at large.
  •  The Research Unit- The Research Unit has a staff of four (4) and was set up to assist the President, Ministers, Members of Parliament, former Members of Parliament, and other Senior Government Officials in conducting research on their request.  A researcher is attached to each of the Sectoral Committees where he/she prepares the report for the Committee. He/she assists the Committee’s staff in conducting research on requests made by the Members of the Committee through the Clerk of the Committee.  However, through the Head of the Library, any Member of Parliament can request research to be carried out and the same will be conducted and would be treated with a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism.

What Parliamentary records does the library house?

The Parliamentary Library Houses Bills, Acts, Subsidiary Legislation, Verbatim records (National Assembly and Committees), All Documents Laid in the National Assembly, Order Paper and Minutes, Motions, Resolutions, Official Gazettes, Official Reports from Ministries and Agencies, Committee reports, newspapers, and oath of Office for Members of Parliament, etc.

How can the public access these records?

The Parliamentary Library is open to the public during its working hours. Persons can request any documentation cited in the laws of Guyana at any time or it can be easily accessed via the Parliament of Guyana website. The library has undergone an extensive project to digitize all records within the library, hence the creation of the Library Archives. These records are currently available on the Parliament of Guyana website – www.parliament.gov.gy