The ‘Operation Rescue UG’ grouping has issued a petition calling on the authorities to appoint a new University of Guyana Council.
According to the petition, ‘Operation Rescue UG’ is stating categorically that it has no confidence in the council at present and does not trust the body as currently constituted to conduct its business impartially and in the best interest of the growth and development of the institution.
‘Operation Rescue UG’, comprising most of the university community, includes the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS), the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU).
According to a copy of the petition calling for the appointment of a new UG Council, the group stated that the life of the current University of Guyana Council comes to an end on March 31 and while most non-academic members of the current council have served the university for many years, some for as long as a decade, the “current UG council has presided over the deterioration of the institution to a state where the majority of its programmes are not accredited by international bodies and the very existence of the 49-year-old institution is at stake.”
According to the petitioners, they are calling on the relevant authorities “to ensure that the University of Guyana has a governing body that has the capacity to transform the institution into a truly national asset.”
In particular, the petition stated, they are calling on the authorities to appoint a new council that is fully constituted with all 26 members and is informed about the needs and functions of a national university.
Moreover, the petition stated that the members of the new UG Council must have significant experience in academia, be truly representative of interest groups in the society, and the members must have been chosen through an open, inclusive and participatory process involving the Minister of Education, the university’s Academic Board and the National Assembly in their nomination and appointment.
The petition also contended that “much responsibility for the unacceptable state of the university must be borne by this council which has failed to attract critically needed resources to the institution, has not been an effective advocate for the university and has failed to offer new and innovative policy guidelines that would position the university to meet the current needs and direction of the society.”
‘Operation Rescue UG’ also charged that the current council has “violated the University of Guyana Acts and Statutes, has taken decisions that lack transparency and accountability and are inequitable and biased.”
According to the petition, some members of the council interpret their role as representing the interests of their political parties while other members consistently fail to attend council meetings and thus abdicate their responsibilities to the institution.
According to the petition, things have not changed substantially since the tenure of former Chancellor Professor Bertie Ramcharran who on commenting on the University Council noted in August 2009 that, during his tenure: ”It would be fair to say that this body has hardly been functioning. When it does meet it might be lucky to have a quorum. The level of magnanimity of its members was not spectacular and one often had the impression that the university deserved better. Political skirmishing was commonplace. As Chancellor we often had to serve as peacemaker!”
