PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Professor Compton Bourne has been appointed the eight Chancellor of the University of Guyana.

According to a U.G. release, Professor Bourne’s appointment was unanimously approved by the University Council on July 29.

UG Vice Chancellor Professor Lawrence Carrington expressed pleasure at the decision of the Council to appoint professor Bourne.

He stated: “Chancellor Professor Bourne will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the deliberations of the Council.”

The new Chancellor joins the list of distinguished individuals who have served in the position since 1963.

Former Chancellors are Sir Edgar Mortimer Duke (1963-1965), Sir Arthur Lewis (1967-1973), Sir William Demas, CCH (1975-1981), Sir Shridath Ramphal, OE, (1987-1992), Dr. Rudolph Insanally, AA,CCH, OE(1994-2000), Professor Calestous Juma (2002-2003) and Dr. Bertrand Ramcharran (2004-2007).

Professor Bourne is a graduate of the University of London, the University of Birmingham and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

He is currently President of the CDB, a post he assumed on May 1, 2001.

Prior to this appointment, he was Principal of the St. Augustine Campus, UWI, Trinidad and Tobago, from 1996-2001, and Pro-Chancellor for Planning and Development, 1990-1996.

He held an appointment as Professor of Economics from 1981 to 2001, and is now Emeritus Professor of Economics.

Professor Bourne is a member of the Order of Excellence, the highest honour of the Republic of Guyana, and a recipient of the Caribbean Studies Distinguished Service Award in 1989, the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Caribbean, and the National Coalition on Caribbean Affairs International Service Award in 2005.

He is the author and editor of 10 books and more than 50 scholarly papers, in addition to more than 50 research reports and advisory memoranda for Caribbean and foreign governments, international development institutions and agencies. (Tajeram Mohabir)