University of Guyana students are in discomfort when utilizing the Turkeyen campus’ library owing to ongoing repairs to the roof which forced the disuse of the air conditioning units.
President of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), Duane Edwards, in a letter to the Stabroek News dated May 18, said the AC system ceased working since October-November last when initial repairs begun. He explained that the system could not be used since the cold air could have escaped through open spaces in the roof.
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Marlene Cox, yesterday told this newspaper that the renovation of the library’s roof was one of many capital works on the campus. She said that five roofs were under construction and the library’s was the only one yet to be completed.
According to Cox, the work was scheduled to be completed by April but bad weather caused the delay. She also said that prior to this; the contractor experienced a number of issues that would have caused a setback as well.
However, she pointed out that she understands that the students’ issue is that the room is now very hot since the air conditioning unit cannot be used. “They (ACs) had to be removed in order for the repairs to be done and the lack of the AC is making the library hot,” she said. Cox explained that in an effort to curtail the effects, several fans have been distributed on the floor of the library.
She stated that currently, the work, which comes under the Ministry of Education, is progressing and she has noticed zinc sheets being placed across the roof.
She noted that the repairs started earlier this year while another section of the library’s roof started and was completed last year.
Efforts made by this newspaper to contact Education Minister Priya Manickchand for a comment proved futile.
