STUDENTS of the University of Guyana (UG) yesterday sent a strong message to the administrative body of the institution by covering the UG billboard with a black banner which reads: “Respect our education #UG Revolution”.Following a sit-in strike,which commenced on Monday last, by UG staff over the collapsed negotiation process with the administration, the UG Students’ Society (UGSS), led by President Joshua Griffith, organized a student rally on the same day to decide on a way forward.

The rally proved fruitful in gaining the collective decision to write to the administration requesting a meeting of the council by today and this was respected. The meeting is expected to be held today according to an assurance by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi.
Despite this, however, the staff continued their sit-in industrial action and were pleased to announce that yesterday’s protest was one of the largest the University has seen by its staff.
In the afternoon also they hosted a discussion forum in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT) where the UGSS once again met with the student body, comprising a few hundred, to decide on the way forward and to demand respect by the current administration and council.
The contributions which were regarded as invaluable saw students voicing their concerns regarding the need for unity in the student body in pressing the administration for improvements which have been long overdue at the institution.
According to the UGSS President, now is the time that the students need to stand up and demand what is rightfully theirs. “This is our time, this is when we stand up,” the UG student leader urged.
His sentiments were further echoed by Sara Bharat, a current UG student, who also underscored the need for students to unite against the oppression which has plagued the institution over the years.
Support in this regard was received from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Christopher Jones who envisioned hope for the university through the current revolution.
Following this, the students, led by Griffith, marched to the billboard situated at the intersection of UG Road and the Railway Embankment Road, where they covered it with a black banner bearing the words: “Respect our Education #UG Revolution”.
As hundreds gathered and mourned the deplorable state of the university’s facilities, and a lack of respect for their education, revolutionary chants could be heard from some distance.
The UGSS President was also keen to add that if the meeting of the council does not bring about a positive result, the sit-in industrial action by the staff will continue, and the student body will lend its support in this regard.

(By Ravin Singh)