The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has defended the appointment of businesswoman Allison Butters-Grant to the Council of the University of Guyana (UG).
In a statement yesterday, the Chamber was responding to a release on Friday by the umbrella Private Sector Commission (PSC) which condemned Butters-Grant’s appointment and called for its reversal. The PSC said that it had nominated the head of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry to sit on the council.
In its statement, the GCCI said that it wished “to give its support to Ms. Allison Butters-Grant of Global Seafoods Distributors Inc. The GCCI has taken note of recent negative press regarding the appointment of Ms. Butters-Grant to the University of Guyana Council. Ms. Butters-Grant is the immediate past secretary of the Chamber and has laboured for the Chamber in this capacity as well as a past Councillor. She has served the Chamber in a positive way and has distinguished herself as a member of the Chamber. As such, we have full confidence in her ability to discharge the duties of a Councillor of the University of Guyana”.
The GCCI said that the University of Guyana Act 1963, Section 13, subsection 2 (j) speaks to ‘four (4) persons to be nominated by such non-governmental organisations as in the opinion of the Minister are most representative of the interests of Women, Farmers, Amerinidians and Business.’
Based on the current law, the GCCI said that the Minister is within her authority to select a person that she sees fit to serve in the capacity of Councillor on the council of UG representing the business community. Therefore, it said that the statement emanating from the PSC was unwarranted.
