“Guyana has given to you, the time has come for you to give back to Guyana,” Chief Justice Carl challenged the more than 1,400 graduands at the 45th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Guyana (UG) on Saturday.
In his feature address Singh beckoned to graduands to reflect on the true meaning of patriotism and loyalty, while highlighting Guyana’s major brain drain issue, which involves mainly teachers, nurses and doctors who would have attained their qualifications from the university.
Borrowing a quote from the late American President John F. Kennedy as reference, Singh urged the outgoing students to reflect on what they can do for Guyana instead of thinking only about what the developing country can do for them. “We can serve our country with diligence, with dedication, and efficiency. By doing so, you, we and all others who live in this fair land will be giving true meaning to being Guyanese,” he said, while adding that “by applying ourselves this way, we will be giving true meaning to the words of the National Pledge, because we will be dedicating our energies to the happiness and prosperity of Guyana”.
The Chief Justice took a brief moment to examine the legal context under which UG is placed. He said the university exists not only for itself but also for the benefits it brings to our people and our country, and for this reason the curriculum structure of the university should recognize its responsibilities in the common endeavor of human development; “social, economic, cultural and technical advance, and facilitated training aimed at our environmental production and the eradication of violence from our communities as well as poverty – which sociologists recognize as a primary contributing cause of violent forms of behaviour in society. In short, the university must remain vibrant in its plans and progress, which should ultimately result in beneficial societal transformation and growth”.
Meanwhile, in his opening speech, UG’s Chancellor Professor Compton Bourne professed that the university’s success, despite the financial impediments it faces, “should be a challenge to the public and private sectors to loosen their purse strings and expand their generosity to the university, to provide high quality tertiary education to the younger generation of Guyana. Give and it shall be returned to you hundredfold”. He also highlighted the university’s strategic plan which includes an agreement signed with the World Bank and the government for a $10 million science and technology support project, which will directly address education quality issues by supporting curriculum reform, infrastructure rehabilitation, and institution capacity in selected areas.
Among those graduating, were the university’s first batch of Dental Surgeons, Pharmacists, and the very first set of students to pursue Post Graduate Degrees in Public Management.
The Valedictorian of the year 2011 was Vineeta Persaud, from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, who was the recipient of the President’s Medal for being the Best Graduating Bachelor’s Degree Student. Following this prize was the Prime Minister’s Award, which was received by Michael De Santos from the School of Medicine. The other awards; the Chancellor’s Medal, the Council of the University prize, and, for the first time, the Doctor Cheddi Jagan Award for Dental Surgery went to Ravina Devi Ramesar (Faculty of Social Sciences), Richardo Major, and Neromini Fagu (Bachelor of Science – Dental Surgery distinction graduate), respectively. Major, was also the recipient of the KA Juman Yassin Sport Award.
