The University of Guyana (UG) has begun planning to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the late President Dr Cheddi B. Jagan in March this year.
A press release from UG yesterday said that the commemoration envisages a series of academic activities to honour the co-founder of Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, which was set up in 1963.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith recently convened the inaugural meeting of the twelve-member, broad-based planning committee entrusted with recommending a comprehensive set of commemoration events. Under the Chairmanship of Dr Nigel Gravesande, University Registrar, the committee includes Professor Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement; Professor Subramanian Gomalthinayagam, Director of the Berbice Campus; and Tota Mangar, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Also part of the planning committee are: Indra Chandarpal of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre; Gwyneth George, University Librarian; Emily King, Director of the National Library; Paulette Paul, UG’s Public Relations Officer; Dr Cheddi (Joey) Jagan, Jr; Dr Nigel Westmaas, Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Hamilton College in New York; Kadasi Ceres of UG’s Faculty of Social Sciences; and Assistant Registrar June Ann Garnett, who is Secretary to the Planning Committee.
According to Vice-Chancellor Griffith, “this commemoration is intended to be consonant with (what) universities do: facilitate discourse on significant personalities, policies, programmes, and events, analysing relevant aspects, some of which might be contentious.”
At the inaugural planning committee meeting the Vice-Chancellor emphasised that the commemoration will not be a partisan pursuit.
The Committee is expected to organise a series of exhibitions on the life and works of the late President, convene symposia at both campuses, and install a commemorative plaque at the Cheddi Jagan Lecture Theatre on the Turkeyen campus.
