I am compelled to respond to the letter published in the Kaieteur News paper of December 8, 2010, with the infamous missive “The Government is to be blamed”, by UGSS Executive Council Members. I will now unapologetically say that this letter carried some gross misrepresentations of the facts as they pertain to the issues of UG and the role the government plays in the institution’s affairs. The first and most shocking revelation of this letter is the fact that these ‘Executive Council Members’, as testament to their undisputed statement about UG’s substandard education qualities, failed to collectively construct a decent letter. That is indeed a shame, but just who exactly is to be blamed for this failure on their part.
These executive council members also emphasised the role of delinquent youths (young brains) who disregard the illegality of loitering, choosing instead to lime on the streets and avoid constructive and productive empowerment that would be acquired through a school education which, as our letter-writers so honestly asserted in disbelief, is provided free of charge, from nursery through secondary by government, as it is government’s legal and moral obligation to educate its people. Who is to blame for this? In my day, while the government provided the education, it was parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children got up, got dressed, and went to school every day. And yes, it is a fact that UG is guilty of providing substandard education, but student loans are made available by the government indiscriminant to all who qualify. These I should add, are non-revolving student loans, meaning that a large number of students do not repay their loans, and the liability of this burdens only the government. So I will call on the UGSS to appeal to its past students to do the honourable thing and repay their loans. All the same, UG has spectacularly managed to run itself into a G$373 million deficit. Is this good administration, with top ranking members running all over the place at the students and UG’s expense?
Of importance also in this letter, is the claim that the government is hindering the progress of students in degrees in pharmacy, optometry and rehabilitation science, who are uncertain of their registration status. These students cannot complete registration for two simple reasons that stem from the fact that UG is a PNC romantic playground. These students cannot be registered because these courses do not officially exist.  Contrary to what we were told in that letter, they were not presented to the University Council. And according to the university statutes, the University Council is the only body that can approve the introduction of new courses that carry cost implications and the only body that can change the fee structure. But being the PNC nest that UG is, these statutes were blatantly ignored. Rationally, I consider their motive and immediately, the reality of the upcoming elections stares me in the face! I recall that earlier in the year, Vincent Alexander, the University of Guyana Registrar, very prematurely and unintelligently announced to the press that UG tuition fees would be raised. Almost immediately, his foolish words were recanted, but the damage was already done.
So ‘Executive Council Members’ be careful of those that seem to have your best interest at heart, for this is a political web that you mustn’t allow yourselves to become tangled in. And also, ask yourselves; why were these students simply not given an extended grace period to complete their registration? In politics there are no friends, there are only opportunities, and where there are political opportunities, make no mistake, there you will find an opportunist! The government is in no way culpable for UG’s problems.