On a long list of issues to be addressed as it relates to infrastructural development of the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus, only the roof of the George Walcott Lecture Theatre has been rectified.
Several weeks of industrial action by the University of Guyana Senior Staff Associa-tion (UGSSA), the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU), who together called themselves ‘Operation Rescue UG’, came to a end on February 26 when a meeting was called by Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul.
Several terms of agreement were signed and parties returned to work the following day. Now, three weeks after classes resumed at the campus, it has been revealed that only one roof has been repaired.
Pro Chancellor of the University, Prem Misir, had previously outlined a number of areas that have been identified for urgent execution such as rehabilitation and infrastructural work, painting of buildings, work on the washrooms, drainage and irrigation, electric works and fencing. However, to date, none of these projects have started.
Stabroek News contacted Vice President of the UGSSA, Dr Melissa Ifill, and was told that the work on the ceiling of GWLT had been completed. But she said that further operations on campus have not been observed.
“We see no evidence of anything else being done… and we don’t know if or when anything else will start,” she said.
Ifill further stated that photographs recently surfaced of students attending classes with open umbrellas and she considered it most appalling that persons must go to such lengths to acquire a tertiary education here in Guyana.
This, she said, is proof that there are still leaking roofs in many lecture rooms. In addition to this, she pointed out, many window panes are missing, creating a similar problem.
Ifill admitted that Misir provided them with no timeline when he presented the list of items identified to be rectified and this has served as a concern to the unions.
“It did not speak to a timeframe… but we are supposed to meet with the administration on a monthly basis for the first couple months and then only as it is necessary later on, but we’ll first address issues of this specific nature,” she indicated.
She added that a meeting has not yet been called owing to the reconciliation process as it related to the termination of lecturers. However, the unions have recently written to the administration requesting a meeting to be called and this is expected next month.
