The MV Logos Hope has returned to Trinidad’s shores with her cargo of discounted literature and a crew of passionate international volunteers with the collective purpose of sharing knowledge, help and hope through education and practical service.
On Saturday, the Logos Hope experience was officially opened with a ribbon cutting with “all hands on deck.”
“Trinidad is the number one response on earth, in terms of visitors to the book fair and their interest in the books.”
On its twenty-fourth visit to Trinidad, the world’s largest floating book fair, the MV Logos Hope, promises five thousand discounted titles and interaction with a crew of three hundred and fifty from over sixty nations, connected by one shared purpose.
“So, Logos is a Greek word from the Bible, from the Gospel of John, meaning “the word” or the “the word of God.” And, so, Logos Hope is just the hope of the Word, and this is our privilege to share. We share knowledge, help and hope … it’s how we like to describe it. Knowledge, of course, represented by the five thousand titles of books, the sixty different cultures that our crew represents, and help in terms of practical service.”
Local liaison for the Logos Hope, Reverend Bickramsingh, expanded on the wide impact of the crew.
“They bring a rich dynamic to Trinidad and Tobago and any other country. While they are here, they are able to do several things, which include going to schools, going to churches, they go to communities. They’re involved in sporting activities. They also do manual or menial labour tasks … if a school needs to be painted, if a church needs some help.”
Lightly describing himself as the “Minister of Books,” Minister of Education, Dr Michael Dowlath, outlined how the educational mission of the Logos Hope aligns with the administration’s vision to nurture civic-minded and global thinkers.
“So, one of the things that I spoke about earlier was about “learning without limits,” but I also want to say to the young people that you have to “think global and act local.” And it’s true reading and books and whatever format that they come in…. It’s really about understanding what the world is about and the values that come with it, and, eventually, knowing the difference between right and wrong and decision-making.”
Having donated copies of his mentorship title “Building a World-Class Brand,” Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, Satyakama Maharaj, explained that hope is strengthened when it is shared.
“Goodwill is not sentimental, it is strategic. As Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism, my commitment is to expand the range of experiences that bring people to our shores, and to deepen the kind of engagements that build our people at the same time. The Logos Hope aligns with that vision. It offers an attraction that visitors can plan around and it offers an experience that our citizens can benefit from.”
And the Logos Hope stands ready to welcome citizens of Trinidad and Tobago daily from 10 AM to 10 PM until February 1st, with an entry fee of just 5 TT dollars to access a world’s wealth of knowledge.