Students in the Parish of St. John’s will soon have access to a fully equipped library that also offers Internet service. This as a result a generous donation received from the People of the Falkland Islands. When the Elected Councillors of the Falkland Islands, a UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, many thousands of miles from Grenada, heard news of the devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan, they quickly sought to help, recognizing the need of a fellow small Commonwealth country with limited resources. The Islands' Executive Council recommended to the Standing Finance Committee that they make a donation to help the international relief effort. The Committee readily agreed to donate the Islands' full Disaster Relief budget of £5,000 (approximately EC$25,225) to Grenada. They suggested that a stand-alone project be identified to which they could contribute, perhaps in the area of education. With the help of the Ministry of Education, the Community Library in the St. John's Parish was identified as a worthy project. The Library, intended to serve both pupils and teachers in all schools in the area, was nearing completion when Ivan the Terrible struck. The donation will help to restore the building, enabling it to open and serve the community. The St. John’s Library Committee took the opportunity this morning to show appreciation, by presenting a plaque to Falkland Island representative Mr. Fred Clarke. Resident British High Commissioner Mr. Vic Wallis accompanied Mr. Clarke. Mr. Wallis, who made the initial handover of the cheque to Ms. Jeanette DuBois in February, said that he was pleased to be associated with such a worthwhile project. Mr. Alvin Campbell of the St. John’s Library Committee said that work is estimated to begin on the facility within the next two weeks. The three level Library Building will provided students with access to much needed reading and research material; high-speed Internet service; photocopying facilities; and will have as a special attribute, a room called the “St. John’s Room” which will feature various aspect of life and culture in the Fishing Capital. Source: Ministry of Education