Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has been appointed as the new principal of the Critchlow Labour College.

In a statement issued on Friday, the College’s Board of Governors disclosed the new appointment as well as its new plans for the expansion of the role of trade unions in Guyana.

The Board said Dr Roopnaraine, a co-leader of the WPA, brings a wealth of experience in areas such as teaching, research, training and capacity building, in addition to outstanding writing, communication and organisation skills. Dr Roopnaraine, a former Guyana scholar, is a graduate of Cambridge University and he gained his PhD in Comparative Literature at Cornell University. Over the years, he has served as senior lecturer in the Department of English of the University of Guyana; visiting assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at Columbia University; and assistant professor and acting Director of the Graduate Programme in the Department of Comparative Literature at Cornell University.

The Board said Dr Roopnaraine’s appointment was in keeping with its commitment to a serious vision and in anticipation of the serious challenges ahead. It explained that it is embarking on an all-round programme of work aimed at laying the basis for the expansion of the role and responsibilities of the trade union movement. It said it recognised the need for leaders who are deeply aware of the challenges facing the trade union movement and who wish to join in the work to overcome them.

It added that a more educated and conscious leadership at all levels would be a source of strength and a strengthened labour movement would make a vital contribution to the growth of the nation. It also noted the importance of its role in the region, including integration among the labour colleges.