Dear Editor,
I note that President of the GCCI, Clinton Urling, has joined GAPE in expressing dissatisfaction with graduates from the University of Guyana (SN, May 11). The university’s official spoke-persons will, I hope, publicly respond in due course. I however use this opportunity to raise some queries for both GAPE and the GCCI to consider: (i) First, how many public and private-sector entities in Guyana scout, as an organizational strategy, for the best talent at UG? Every year, the university’s valedictorians and other top graduates struggle to find good jobs in the marketplace. Last year’s top engineering graduate (the university’s valedictorian) is probably not known to any of the local engineering firms, (ii) our engineering graduates are sought after by firms in Trinidad and Tobago. Is this something to take note of? And (iii) how many firms have a structured or any internship programme for new graduate-employees? I pose the questions not to divert attention from the real problems and shortcomings of the university. I raise them to help broaden the discussion of the problem and to prevent a limited search for solutions.
Yours faithfully,
Sherwood Lowe
