Days after the announcement of the re-appointment of University of Guyana (UG) Chancellor Professor Compton Bourne, new reports have surfaced that he has indicated plans to step down.
Stabroek News was informed by a UG staff member that Bourne has released an e-mail to several persons indicating his decision to resign with effect of Friday, June 29. Such a decision would be seen as a victory for the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU), which opposed his reappointment.
Stabroek News approached three senior officials at the university, two of whom were unable to give confirmation to the report while the other refused to comment.
Dr Theodosius Velloza, Registrar (ag), when asked about the matter, said “This is news to me.” After checking his e-mail, Velloza indicated that he had not received such information from Bourne.
Lecturer and former Dean of the School of Education and Humanities Al Creighton, when contacted, stated that while he had heard of the e-mail, he had not seen any correspondence. He further questioned the persons who would have received the document, whether it was all staff members or only those of the administration department.
Meanwhile, when quizzed about the incident, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Marlene Cox stated that she could not comment on that issue at the moment.
“At a recent meeting of the university’s council, Prof Bourne was re-elected Chancellor for a period of three years and the administration looks forward to working with Chancellor Bourne, the council, all university staff and stakeholders, to charter a new course for the institution,” a press release from UG’s administration had said.
The UGWU and the UGSSA resumed protest action at the university last week over conditions and a memorandum of demands. They called on Bourne to resign for not addressing their concerns.
The unions criticized the council for making critical decisions although its extended tenure expires at the end of this month.
“The offer and acceptance of a new [three]-year appointment that was made behind closed doors – a process that revealingly lacked transparency – fills us with dread!” the unions said in a joint statement, signed by UGSSA President Dr Patsy Francis and UGWU President Bruce Haynes.
