The Private Sector Com-mission (PSC) on Monday said that its objection to the business representative on the University of Guyana Council was not intended to target any individual but the process utilized.
On Friday, the PSC in a statement had said that its nominee to the council, the Head of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry (CAGI) had not been selected. It pointed out that the custom over the last 25 years has been to select the PSC nominee. Another person was selected by the government for the council position, The PSC had called on Friday for the correction of the anomaly but did not identify the person who was chosen. That person is fisheries businesswoman, Allison Butters-Grant and she was referred to in several media reports.
In its follow-up statement on Monday, the PSC said it wanted to underline that its earlier press release raised no objection to the nomination of any person on the Council but emphasised its disappointment that its nominee had not been considered. It pointed out that this has been the custom and practice over the last twenty-five years and the importance of the business community’s voice being represented on the Council as is required by the Constitution of the University. The PSC stands by that position.
The PSC says it has written to the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, asking that the matter be corrected.
Following the PSC’s statement on Friday, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) defended the appointment of Butters-Grant to the UG Council.
In a statement on Monday, the GCCI said that it wished “to give its support to Ms. Allison Butters-Grant of Global Seafoods Distributors Inc. The GCCI has taken note of recent negative press regarding the appointment of Ms. Butters-Grant to the University of Guyana Council. Ms. Butters-Grant is the immediate past secretary of the Chamber and has laboured for the Chamber in this capacity as well as a past Councillor. She has served the Chamber in a positive way and has distinguished herself as a member of the Chamber. As such, we have full confidence in her ability to discharge the duties of a Councillor of the University of Guyana”.
It is unclear who nominated Butters-Grant to the post.
