-students allege victimization
The University of Guyana (UG) Council has recommended the sacking of a lecturer after students lodged a range of complaints, including claims of victimization and inappropriate behavior.
The Faculty of Technology lecturer, nicknamed “Sex Man” by students, also holds a post on a state regulatory body. In official letters of complaint seen by Stabroek News, some students accused him of victimization and intimidation, saying he promised to ensure they would not get jobs while he was around.
Stabroek News was told that from all indications the services of the lecturer will be terminated however UG Public Relations Officer Paulette Paul when contacted for confirmation stated that she was not in receipt of any information that a determination was made. However she indicated that she was aware that an investigation was ongoing. When contacted, Registrar Vincent Alexander also confirmed that the matter was under investigation but he said the university was not at the moment prepared to speak on the matter. Asked to comment on the details of the complaints leveled against the lecturer, Alexander maintained that the university was not ready to speak on the issue, although he confirmed that students made complaints and re-iterated that the investigation was continuing.
Meanwhile, UG Pro-Chancellor Dr. Prem Misir, who also heads the University’s Council, confirmed that a report on the investigations was received and that a decision was taken on the lecturer’s fate at a meeting on Wednesday night. However Misir would not comment on the details of the decision, pointing to established protocol. He referred this newspaper to Alexander.
“In terms of protocol, it’s better if he [Alexander] relates it to you. A decision of this nature, from a protocol point of view, should be given by him,” Misir related.
In letters to the Registrar, student reported the lecturer for victimization and intimidation, particularly against students sponsored by a mining company. One student related that on the first day in class, the lecturer told students, “Leave yall God at the [expletive] door,” saying that he was God in the classroom. Further, the student charged too that most of the time spent in class was “sex talking time” and as such he was given the name “Sex Man” by students. The student also reported that a 2008 examination supervised by the lecturer was held at a city hotel and students who were in opposition were victimized.
The student said too that after a decision was made by the University for the lecturer’s examinations to be invigilated, the lecturer told students that he would give them information about the examination. He said too that the lecturer spoke openly about using his political link to victimize the sponsored students. “‘He said they were messing with the wrong person,’” the student quoted him as saying.
Two other students claimed that they were prevented from writing an examination on the claim that they had not passed their course work.
They maintained that they had submitted their work to the lecturer but never got anything back. They said he had done the same in two previous courses he taught. “He normally collects your course work and when you inquire he would say not to worry [and] he has you covered,” they alleged, adding that other students who were clearly ineligible were permitted to sit the examinations.
One university student who was approached about the lecturer quickly recounted, “Oh sex man. That’s normal. He has been doing that for years.” The student said the lecturer was well known especially for carrying on lewd conversations with students on campus.
