University of Guyana (UG) staff members are still working under the same conditions at the Turkeyen campus that they protested earlier this year, leading to calls for new action.
“I’m not saying let’s go on strike but we have to do something. We must protest because the situation has not improved and we have to do something to let people know our plight is the same as it was, that nothing has changed,” President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) Dr Patsy Francis said on Wednesday last during a general meeting with workers.
Earlier this year, the UGSSA, the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) launched ‘Operation Rescue UG’ and protested against deplorable conditions at the campus. Minister of Labour Dr Nanda Gopaul subsequently called a meeting with the members of the unions and terms for resumption were brokered.
Additionally, Pro Chancellor Dr Prem Misir had indicated to Francis via e-mail that several plans were put in place to improve the UG facilities and classrooms. The Agriculture, Health Science and Technology faculty buildings were to be repainted along with the Natural Science Annex, the Biodiver-sity Centre, the Stables, the Education Lecture Theatre, the George Walcott Lecture Theatre and the small lecture theatre.
Roofs of the Technology building, the Senior Common Room, the New Building Society Hall of Residence, Maintenance, Offices of Natural Science, Health Sciences Anatomy Laboratory and the Stables were also to be replaced.
Rehabilitation and flushing of all manholes and total restoration of tile work in washrooms were also supposed to be done as was clearing of the main distribution outlets leading to the Liliendaal Pump Station, outside the campus. In addition to this, the electrical wiring in 90% of the existing buildings is to be replaced, while the Pro Chancellor assured that 70% of the campus will be fenced to ensure security.
To date, only the roof of the George Walcott Lecture Theatre has been repaired, according to Vice President of the UGSSA Dr Melissa Ifill. “Roof work was scheduled but I think our action is what sped the process up. GWLT was finished quickly during that period but that was the only thing done, essentially, nothing else. People are dissatisfied. They started the library but it is not finished,” she said.
No confidence
Ifill affirmed that ‘Opera-tion Rescue UG’ is insisting that the council be changed and they hope to see this happen prior to the new Vice-Chancellor being appointed. The Vice-Chancellor should be appointed before the new academic year. “We can’t continue running this campus like this, Vice-Chancellor acting and no deputy. How is business going to be done?” Francis questioned.
“We have no confidence in this council to choose someone in the best interest of the university, so we have Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, we’ve asked him to lay the petition in Parliament on our behalf,” Ifill added. She explained that the petition was prepared and signed for the purpose of opposing the extension of the life of the current council.
“He [Roopnaraine] has indicated to us that he has submitted it but it has to go through a process but is expected to come up in the order of papers sometime. We are hoping that all of our politicians, both on the government side and on the opposition side, recognise that we need to have an effective council running this university,” Ifill stated.
She added that the university faces many crises, all of which were presided over by the council and as a result, they are asking that the members be changed. She noted that if the petition is not laid before the National Assembly at the end of June, to which the life of all boards was extended, then there are options to be exercised.
“We are letting our members know what are some of the problems and the fact that we have barely made any progress on any issue… and we have exercised a lot of patience. We have kept our end of the bargain, the university hasn’t and if this persists then we will have to take whatever measures necessary,” she assured. “Essentially, what we are trying to say, we have no confidence in this council to choose our new vice chancellor… we need a fresh start, UG needs a fresh start,” Ifill said.
Another problem workers and students face, Francis pointed out, is the dark passageway at the back of the campus which is used to exit into Sophia. She noted that there are no lights in that area, making it hazardous for young women.
“Next thing you know women will be raped behind there because rape is the order of the day… things they can attend to, they are not attending to,” she said.
Finances
Ifill also stated the financial crisis has led the university to be unable to pay workers’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes.
“At the end of the day, the university’s debts are not really the university debts because they affect us directly. When they don’t pay our NIS and they don’t pay our PAYE and they don’t pay the Credit Union, all those things have implications for us as staff and workers, and so I am amused as to why they are sitting here taking it so calmly. We are expecting them to pay these things on our behalf but they are not doing it. We have to look at this financial crisis in that light too. It’s not just about running this place. It has direct implications to every member of staff,” she stated.
Francis stated that with a significant shortfall of cash to run the campus, she finds it nonsensical that the Bursar would write, requesting $250 million to clear off debts. “When you clear off the debts, we won’t have money to run the campus so we will end up back in deficit… The issue concerning the funding of the university has to be placed front and centre,” she posited.
As it relates to the World Bank loan of US$10 million to UG, Francis said she has not received any further information as to whether or not it was signed and that they will soon have to address the issue again.
It was also highlighted that workers who had participated in a two-day sit in earlier this year had that deducted from their salaries recently leading to ‘Operation Rescue UG’ putting up a proposal to organise a strike relief fund.
“…Members are asking what are we getting out of this? We’ve lost money but nothing is happening,” Francis said.
President of the UGWU Bruce Haynes pointed out that it is not sensible to protest if it involves losing in terms of salary. “If we are going to be taken seriously we must organize a strike relief. If because of strike action we lose a day’s pay, we should be able to compensate, but we have to have the resources,” he noted.
“We have been promised by persons who are residents abroad to contribute. We also have local sympathisers who will put money in our fund and we also have to help ourselves with fundraisers,” Francis added.
Haynes pointed out the Ministry of Education has released $30 million, which will be used to “spruce up the campus.” He explained that an assessment is currently being done and a consultant will take the information and relay it to the ministry, which will then assign contractors through a tendering process.
He pointed out that money will be earmarked for the purchase of eight air conditioning units and compressors for the library. “There’s an issue at the library right now as it relates to keeping it cool. While doing the roof, the ac units were vandalised. We have to replace those units,” Haynes said.
