The new Executive Body of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) was on Friday installed and Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, charged the body to keep their constituents informed of new developments.
“Keep in communication with your constituents that you represent. They would not all be able to be in one place at one time… Keep them informed and enable them with the information to separate fiction from facts,” Griffith urged, during his address to the executive body.
Newly elected president Norwell Hinds and his executive council were administered their Oath of Office by Professor Griffith.
On the new Executive Council are Clenell Petty and Akeem Primo from the faculty of Agriculture and Forestry; Patrick Benjamin-Huntley, Nkafi Hodge and Michael Morrison for the faculty of Earth & Environmental Sciences; Adessa Burke, Mark Hooper & Fabio John from the faculty of Education and Humanities; Marvin Scott and Marvin Wills from the faculty of Health Sciences; Joshua James and Devta Ramroop from the faculty of Natural Sciences; Akeem Pantlitz of the faculty of Techno-logy and Abigale John and Mikhail Mc Kenzie from the School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
During his address, Griffith told the council that while they are in a leadership position they must stay focussed on their studies and keep “their eyes on the prize” alluding to graduating from the tertiary institution. He also urged the students to find the balance between their academic and social lives, noting that serving in a leadership position forces “you to make tough decisions.”
Registrar of the university Nigel Gravesande in his remarks challenged the new council to help develop coherent values and ethical standards, forge educational partnerships with other institutions to advance student’s learning and to build supportive and inclusive communities across the two campuses and four Institute of Distance and Continuing Education Centres. He further challenged the executive to use the resources at the university to effectively achieve institutional missions and goals, engage students in active learning and work to improve student performance.
Meanwhile, Hinds in his inaugural speech said that during the term, his team would be focused on representing all students and using their platform to advocate for student leadership and advocacy, help students in need and bring immediate relief to for students.
In addition, he said that they would work to mobilize resources for students and ensure that the UGSS is effectively managed with good governance.
“We must be able to commit our talent and resources not only for advocacy but immediate relief for students,” Hinds said.
At the end of his presidential term he said he would like to see the “successful completion and opening of the student complex with it being fully furnished.” He also stated that the council is proposing to host two major events; Inter-campus Varsity Games which would bring together all tertiary Institutes, and a major conference called ‘Solve Guyana’ in partnership with the administration.
He added that these goals would not distract the council from working for their constituents as representing them is a priority.
He also called on businesses to support the student council as he believes they would be able to benefit from additional revenue.
Hinds and the new executive student body council were elected on the 27th of September.
