The University of Guyana’s Student Society (UGSS) has noted with alarm the deplorable state of several toilets on campus and has taken drastic measures by closing two of these toilets.
Head of the Student Society Richard Rambarran told Stabroek News that they made the decision to close four of the toilets on the campus, two by the Faculty of Natural Resources and another two by the campus’s cafeteria Spicy Dish given their state.
“We would have spoken with the administration and told them that until the toilets can meet up to a certain standard and the monies … allocated to refurbish the toilets then we will see it fit to reopen the toilets,” Rambarran said.
He said they have had talks with Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi on the matter. “…He has already indicated that the university administration has put aside money to refurbish these toilets and that bids were even tendered.” But Rambarran said the UGSS did not think the toilets were fit to be used. He said that one particular toilet has been backed up for more than a semester and that the system needs a complete makeover.
Opadeyi could not be contacted yesterday.
Stabroek News made contact with UG’s Public Relations Officer Paulette Paul, who said that she was not aware of the toilets being closed.
According to Rambarran, the UG administration has been very cooperative.
“They have given us their word that they have monies allocated for the refurbishing but we decided to take it into our own hands,” he said.
He added that the student body had proposed putting some of its funds toward the rehabilitation of the toilets given the nature of the problem but had been assured by the administration that money was already set aside.
Rambarran recalled that the Student Empowerment Alliance had cause to shut down the campus in 2011 owing to insanitary conditions. “There was Operation Rescue UG because of the deplorable state it was in,” he said.
