Dear Editor,
What a slap in the face to students. The University of Guyana Turkeyen announces “improvements” in new academic year. This announcement was made at the Ceremonial Opening at Turkeyen on Friday. “Improvements?” That, I am waiting to see. UG is starting off on the wrong foot with opening two weeks late— and Turkeyen is promising “improvements”! Two weeks that will cost many students— time that could have been used to commence studies so that the semester could have been wrapped up in an early and timely manner. This university is nowhere near serious when it comes to its students’ welfare. I am yet to uplift my student ID/badge, for which processing began sometime in January this year, a badge that I was supposed to have since September of last year! This is the ineptitude I speak about. Improvements?
The Turkeyen campus had its “opening” last Friday. What’s the point of these ceremonies? The Berbice Campus was never closed. Its doors have been opened throughout the entire summer, functioning, delivering to the community, being there for people and children. Up to last week the campus distributed tons of books to several organisation. UG Berbice is too giving at times I think.
It’s a pity UGBC does not have autonomy. This new academic year would not have started two weeks late. UGBC, I am sure, has been rearing to go weeks ago! I hope UGBC becomes separated from Turkeyen soon and all Berbicians should call for this.
The improvement talked about on Friday is just another nice speech. It’s going to be elections time again for the student government. They will come around with nicely coined catch phrases and empty promises for votes, in Berbice. They shall not have my vote; none of them. They are all a pack of power-grabbers, including the current person in charge. What have they done for improvement of life for students at the Berbice campus? Do their vision even extend to Berbice?
Much of the improvements I have been seeing in Berbice are because of the dynamic leadership that exists at the Berbice Campus. Leadership that does not talk, talk, talk, and more talk, rather leadership that acts and acts swiftly.
Turkeyen is hindering the full potential of UG Berbice and the late opening is a major blow to all students in Berbice, since I am sure that all lecturers and staff in Berbice were all ready to work on the scheduled opening date in August.
Another academic year to watch Turkeyen self-destruct. Let’s sit back and watch how it all pans out.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Suseran
