Vice-Chancellor
THE Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Carrington yesterday announced the University of Guyana (UG) is putting together a group of scholars to formally respond to the draft Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

He told a media briefing, convened at Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Secretariat on Waterloo Street, Georgetown, that the response can be used by Government as an informed opinion as it proceeds with the quest.

Mr. Carrington said the task will be undertaken by a mixed group, given the multi-faceted outlook of the documentation.

“I expect that, before long, we will be able to provide the Office of the President with a commentary that should be supportive of the initiative,” he said.

Carrington added: “Let me make it clear, when I say supportive of the initiative, I think that the Government is well aware that part of its consultative process could produce data that can influence adjustment of some decisions on how to modify what they do.

“It is an attempt to apply whatever we know of academics to the proposition and make a commentary that can be supportive, in the sense of assisting the Government to make correct decisions about how to proceed,” he explained.

Carrington said the move is in fulfillment of UG’s role to serve this country.
“The point is you have a national university and there are a set of national requirements, national issues, national policies and, I think, the university has to be reflective on those matters and try to show the best judgement is brought to bear on the decisions which are made.

“It will not always be an agreement, what matters is the ability to evaluate opinions and the knowledge one uses to apply to an environment like this. It’s self-interest,” he posited.

Carrington said, through constant scanning of the horizon, by paying attention to what happens in society and attempting to have views, opinions and research on issues, he sees the university moving forward.

The Vice-Chancellor said, on occasions, it will require new people, new money and facilities but “unless you pay attention, you are not going to know.”

“You are not going to know when the time is right for you to say look, this thing that you are doing here requires these kinds of inputs, so, if you can’t do this, then you need to do xyz. That is what a national university has to focus on,” he said.