The University of Guyana (UG) was inexplicably left out of discussions on a potential collaboration between the University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies (UWI) St Augustine Campus. This exclusion from talks is seen as a clear demonstration of gross disrespect on the part of the Ali Administration and The UWI Principal towards Guyana’s sole national University.
The meeting, which took place at the Office of the President, involved His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali and Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, the new Principal of the UWI St Augustine Campus. Other attendees included the Minister of Education, the Honourable Priya Manickchand; Minister of Public Service, the Honourable Sonia Parag, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, and the Director of Presidential Affairs, Mrs Marcia Nadir-Sharma. Notably absent from the meeting was UG’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Paloma Mohamed.
The exclusion of UG from these talks is perceived by some as a continuation of the disrespectful attitude by the GoG and UWI towards UG, Guyana’s sole national University that is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary year. In a review of protocol surrounding university collaborations, it has been reinforced that institutions of higher education typically opt to interact with their local partner universities. It is viewed as discourteous for UWI to not insist on UG’s involvement in any discussion or plan, especially given their position as a sister university in the region.
The UWI St. Augustine’s Principal has also been criticized for her lack of courtesy in entering this space without informing UG’s principals. Her conduct seems to mimic that of her boss, UWI’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hilary Beckles. In October 2020, it might be recalled that there were many revelations in the regional press about UWI’s worrisome financial challenges and the deep rift between the UWI Chancellor Robert Bermudez and Prof. Beckles that resulted in the former’s efforts to stop the early consideration of Beckles’ contract renewal. In his public relations efforts to secure goodwill and a renewed contract, Beckles revealed that the Government of Guyana agreed to provide resources to the University of the West Indies to train 20 000 Guyanese over five years.
The University of Guyana then issued a terse response in which it noted the massive strides the institution continues to make with limited resources within the context of ‘The University of Guyana Blueprint 2040’ strategic framework. The massive national push back against what was widely perceived to be an unpatriotic and inexcusable act by the government to side-line UG in preference for an external institution, caused Prof. Beckles to backpedal and a subsequent release from UWI noted that the regional institution wished to create a ‘Higher Education Hub’ and would hold discussions with UG for a potential “UWI-UG” bridge to boost Guyana’s social and economic development and promote the mutual development of the University of Guyana (UG) and the University of the West Indies (UWI).
This latest visit and talks by the St. Augustine Principal flies in the face of Beckles assurances of collaboration and critics continue to insist that the exclusion of UG in this manner is not the way to do achieve this proposed regional ‘Higher Education Hub’ and more so, that any decent external higher educational institution would insist on working with the national institution.
The exclusion of UG from discussions surrounding any potential collaboration with UWI has raised questions about the motives behind the decision. Many feel that this is a political move by the PPP government to isolate and degrade UG due to perceived political reasons. The GoG has refused to properly fund the University of Guyana but on the other hand it is funneling billions of Guyanese taxpayer dollars to numerous foreign higher education institutions. It is shocking that UWI under Beckles and Belle Antoine would allow this respected regional institution to be used in this way.
The exclusion of UG from discussions surrounding a potential collaboration between UWI and Trinidad and Tobago’s St Augustine Campus is disrespectful and discourteous. It is important for institutions of higher education to work with their local partner universities, and any potential collaboration should involve UG. The decision to exclude UG from these talks raises questions about the motives behind this move, and it is important that the issue is addressed to ensure that UG and the UWI are not used as political pawns.
The University of Guyana was founded in 1963, even before Guyana achieved independence, by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, founder of the party currently in government. Some contend that the current treatment of UG is a betrayal of Jagan’s vision and legacy. In October 2023, UG will celebrate its 60th anniversary. One respected academic this newspaper spoke with, noted that ‘UG has survived efforts at political and financial strangulation from all governments and has mastered the art of making wine out of water.’ With massive inflows from Guyana’s new oil economy, the University of Guyana shouldn’t be required to. UG must be funded properly. Our students and staff deserve no less.
