The chairman of the National Library and Information Systems Authority (Nalis), Neil Parsanlal, has defended the opening of libraries in Diego Martin and La Horquetta against critics, saying opposition to the initiative largely comes from a particular segment of the population.

Parsanlal spoke at the opening of the La Horquetta Public Library at Slinger Francisco Boulevard, La Horquetta, on November 26.

He was excited about the opening, saying, "For us at Nalis, we rejoice! Rare is the occasion when we are able to open two purpose-built libraries within the space of one year.

"This is the first purpose-built public library in the east, rivalled in size only by the National Library in Port of Spain."

[caption id="attachment_1123234" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Chairman of the board of NALIS Neil Parsanlal speaks at the opening ceremony for the La Horquetta Public Library on Slinger Francisco Boulevard, La Horquetta on November 26. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

The three-storey library cost $42 million and took 17 months to complete. It features four retail spaces, two multi-functional rooms, a 200-seat amphitheatre and children's and adult libraries fitted with computer stations, books and games.

He urged young men, particularly those of African descent who have been drawn to a life of "deviance" or straying in that direction, to make use the library.

"Join the library and save your lives."

He said he made similar remarks in early March at the opening of the Diego Martin Public Library, and received accusations of injecting race into the event.

"That is when I knew I could not stop advocating for more libraries to be built, so that people who harbour such shallow thoughts could swim in the deeper and clearer waters of knowledge and enlightenment that are indeed possible if they only visit a library."

[caption id="attachment_1123237" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis speaks during the opening ceremony for the La Horquetta Public Library on Slinger Francisco Boulevard, La Horquetta on November 26. - Photo by Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]

He said after he thought about people's discontentment on the issue, he finally understood it was not about race, but class.

"I engaged with some of the protagonists on social media...and found an unfortunate pattern emerge.

"The majority of those up in arms about the money spent on the construction of the library were people who probably grew up with entire collections of encyclopaedias in their houses, had received a tertiary education, either locally or abroad, held down decent-paying jobs, able to afford laptops or postpaid smartphones and either own their own homes or didn't have to worry about paying their own rent."

He said he realised that it was important for those people to maintain their status and the status quo, to ensure others cannot follow in their path.

Parsanlal also said as part of a pilot project, the library will remain open until 10 pm.

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