Deejay Vybz Kartel is planning to build a library in the Big Yard community, located off Mannings Hill Road.

The library will be called the 'Adidja Palmer Library and Net Café' and will hopefully be opened by mid-April. When THE STAR spoke with the artiste yesterday, he explained that he has already bought a 20-foot container which is being formatted to accommodate six computers and books, including encyclopaedias.

He said, "I spoke to a high-ranking officer from Constant Spring Police Station, a Mr Wray Palmer, who gave me the idea. He said instead of giving money to the residents which is like a hand-to-mouth kinda thing, why not build something that the community at large can benefit from forever, like a library. That's where I got the idea."

According to the deejay, he is in the process of seeking formal permission from city officials to open the library but has complete confidence that he will not encounter any problems in doing so.

prominent high schools

He said he has also spoken to the residents of the community who are supportive of the idea. "We have teachers of prominent high schools who reside in the community who are more than willing to take on the task of monitoring and operating the library. We will also be asking private-sector members in the area to foot the monthly bill."

Kartel told THE STAR that he plans to buy some of the books needed for the library but he is also asking persons to sponsor or send any available books that could be used. "I need sponsors for books and I need an air-conditioning unit for the library as well. So any interested person can send the books, care of my publicist Claude Mills, to 14 Kirk Avenue, Havendale," he said.

As to why the library will be established in Big Yard and not in his home community of Waterford, Portmore, Kartel said, "Waterford is a community that has benefited from my generosity in the past and will continue to reap from 'Di Teacha' whether by donations to my alma mata, Waterford Primary, or by introducing new talent to the music world. But as a resident of Kingston 8 and a well-loved personality by Big Yard, this community is more needy of the project. Waterford Primary and High School have libraries, plus a community library."

Kartel and the Big Yard community have been linked for some time now, with the deejay supposedly being held responsible for some negative incidences that have taken place there. However, he says this is not an attempt to clean up his image or a publicity stunt.

"Well, it wasn't something I was gonna do if I wasn't given the idea. Mr Palmer sat me down and talked to me, he was basically saying 'do good' and I took his advice. Kartel will be Kartel. It is Adidja Palmer who is doing this," he said.