Jafar Gibbons, who was recently elected as the President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), has already made a change that will benefit the students on campus, according to a press release from the UGSS.
It said that as of today, students going to the East Coast from 16:30 hours to 21:30 hours would not have to travel to the city as an agreement has been reached with the bus service for students to be taken all the way to Victoria.
The release said that just a day after being sworn in as UGSS President, Jafar and two other faculty representatives, Kimalie George and Desmond Kissoon met with the leaders of the UG bus service. It was agreed by both parties that transportation to and from the campus can be difficult to access at specified times. They also agreed that persons living along the East Coast find it difficult in acquiring transportation which can be burdensome, the statement said.
It was also agreed that departure from campus on foot can be dangerous as persons, in some instances, have been attacked and even robbed in the nearby streets on the outskirts of campus.
To alleviate these concerns, the UGSS and the bus service agreed that as of today, students going to the East Coast would not have to travel to Georgetown. Instead, they will congregate at the bus shed until the required number of persons needed to fill the bus are met (a total of 15 persons) and then take any of the buses provided to facilitate the transport. The bus will drive along the East Coast route, all the way to Victoria.
These services will be provided for, from 16:30 hours to 21:30 hours.
The statement said that Gibbons expressed his elation at such a breakthrough and said that he knows the students will embrace the move with much excitement. The former leader of the Students’ Action Movement, added that his focus will be primarily on students’ representation, ensuring their welfare will be top priority for the academic year.
Gibbons also lamented how unsafe it was to have students walking out the campus late at nights and still have to wait on the public road for transportation, something the newly elected president said is safer to do on the campus.
According to the UGSS, the bus service has communicated that there is a 10-bus shuttle system that is in place from the times listed above, meaning ten buses are being used strictly for taking students off the campus, repeatedly.
“While we accept that that number might be insufficient at peak hours, we are asking students to not walk out to the road, but instead, wait for the buses at the bus shed,” said Gibbons.
The statement said that the development is part of a few promises Gibbons made while on the campaign trail. He had also vowed to continue to relentlessly fight to ensure that students are involved and represented at the nation’s highest tertiary institution. In addition, he vows to help the administration in any way possible in the delivery of the services provided at the university. He expressed gratitude to the administration, who are displaying their willingness to work to enhance the welfare of the students, the statement said.
Meantime, in another press statement, UG announced that the Installation Ceremony for the UGSS Executive Council for the 2019/2020 Academic Year, was held last Tuesday in the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus. Apart from Gibbons, the faculty representatives are: Sven Anthony, Clebert Wade, Daniel Anthony and Teesha Mangra from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry; Junior Alexander, Patrick Benjamin-Huntley and Michael Morrison from the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Tavanne Archer, Athena Prentice and Keith Whyte from the Faculty of Education and Humanities; Kevon David, Marvin Scott and Joshua Sargent from the Faculty of Health Sciences; Kimalie George, Sileena Arjune and Shemar Trotman from the Faculty of Natural Sciences; Marissa Scott from the Faculty of Social Sciences; Joshua Trotman, Desmond Kissoon and Shanese Lilly from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and Keyon Duke, Ashli Marks and Deamon Whitney from the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation.
The Oath of Office and Installation of the Student President and members of the UGSS Executive were administered by Professor Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE) and Chair of UG’s Transitional Management Committee.
The opening remarks were made by Dr C Nigel Gravesande, UG’s Registrar, while the ceremonial handing over of the key was done by outgoing President Devta Ramroop.
