As lecturers and students of the University of Guyana continue to fight for better conditions at the Turkeyen campus, Opposition Leader, David Granger has indicated his support of these efforts and proposed a 10-point plan to them.
Granger visited the campus on Wednesday last and met with President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association, Dr. Patsy Francis; President of the University of Guyana Students Society, Duane Edwards and President of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union, Bruce Haynes. There, they discussed several issues which have been affecting them and the student body for some time.
Yesterday, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition issued a press release which indicated that Granger has been aware of several UG studies conducted by Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors that have been sidelined by the PPP/C administration and its representatives on the council for more than 20 years. Granger criticized the administration for insufficient funding and for control over the council instead of implementing “a strategic, long term task of improving infrastructure and enhancing academic standards”.
The opposition leader promised to act within his resources to assist with short term goals but pointed out that the problems experienced on the campus are deep rooted and require more drastic actions.
According to the release, Granger advanced a ten-point plan that included amending the university’s Act and Statutes; academic enhancement; funding strategic development; re-examining the council’s functions; reforming UG finances including salaries and pensions; re-equipping science laboratories and the library; rehabilitating infrastructure; relations with the University of the West Indies; reviewing students’ fees and recruiting staff to UG on a sound footing.
Rally
Meanwhile, when Stabroek News contacted Francis, she noted that a “grand rally” will be held today on campus with all lecturers and students who are in support to update them on the outcome of their efforts thus far.
She said she has since received a document from Pro-Chancellor, Prem Misir, about what was discussed and she is expecting a formal response today. “He had to speak to a number of persons because it’s not like he can act on his own… he has written to the Bursar on the infrastructure issues and the Bursar has issued a document about the issues on campus,” she explained.
This, Francis said, has not been satisfactory to her since the Bursar spoke about the “bathrooms in general” and pointed out the deficiencies in various areas.
“I walked around and went to all of the bathrooms today and even though they are clean they are still smelling… it’s an underlying problem,” Francis said, noting that the sewerage problem needs to be addressed.
She also explained that students and lecturers are forced to work and study with serious safety hazards in various buildings. She said the Agriculture Faculty has no fire escape.
“I am trying to figure out how they can put down a building and not put a fire exit or something… it has to have at least two entrances, a back and a front,” she said. Francis noted that these issues need to be discussed in a fundamental way.
Francis also pointed out that there was some intimidation of staff members whose names were recorded after involvement in the protest. “The university and the Ministry of Labour I think need to record the industrial action but names are not to be taken down, just percentage,” she explained.
She noted that she has since communicated with the Personnel Officer on this issue who said she had no intent to intimidate and assured that this will discontinue.
Meanwhile, picketing continued yesterday at the entrance of UG where about 30-40 persons, including academic staff, gathered.
“If the situation does not abate I don’t know what will happen… I trust that the situation will have a solution and I hope that the administration and the government understands that we are looking for solutions to the problems of the University because they are real, we are not making this up,” Francis noted.
