PROF. PARSRAM S. Thakur, former Director of the Berbice Campus, from its opening in the year 2000 to 2008, chose not to reapply for the job at the end of his contract, citing irksome micromanagement of the Campus by Turkeyen, a spy system and underground and aberrant communication; open hostility to any suggestions for more degree programmes and extra-mural departments; rampant and open bribery and collusion with senior administration; refusal to give him his letter for a duty- free vehicle, etc, etc. The fledgling Campus experienced significant setbacks with three separate strikes, when many recalcitrant Turkeyen lecturers refused to travel to teach in Berbice, unless specific demands were met, some puerile and others blatant chicanery Political underpinnings set the tone and sustained a rather tenuous and suspect alliance between the Campuses from the inception. Many, in and out of the University, argued against establishing the Campus. The repetitive mantra was: We can’t afford one University, how can we have two. The PPP-Civic government wanted the Campus and wanted our services. We got the trump card. It was in a chaotic and subverted environment that Prof. Thakur must begin to build and administer a new university campus. He must have been perceived as traitor to some and odious to others. The worst setback was the first hold out, Fall, 2000; worst when the lecturers called themselves “travelling officers” and demanded duty-free vehicles. Many did not drive to Berbice and there were instances where lecturers did not hold a driver’s licence. Students daily came in vain to the campus, asking about the beginning of classes. What does a newly appointed head answer? Omnipresent was the frustration. Fortunately, against all advice, these events have all been documented in many of the daily logs and dozens of files.
The campus was perceived as a “Milking Cow” for many lecturers from Turkeyen, making approximately $20,000 per week (or per trip) more than a Berbice-based lecturer. Any talk of autonomy would remove this lucrative source. In 2007 approximately $35,000,000 (thirty-five million dollars) was wasted on lecturers coming from Turkeyen; information given to the University Council. Prof. Thakur himself was denied teaching courses within his expertise. Applications from Berbice were being manipulated by the Vice-Chancellor to maintain the status quo, keeping lecturers coming from Turkeyen. When it was suggested that Prof. Thakur prove his allegations, the Vice Chancellor walked out of the meeting. (July, 2008). When these matters were raised the Director became very unpopular and many false charges were made, some led by the Vice Chancellor himself. In base vindictive UG senior administration refused to pay his return passage, passage for his spouse, breaking an eight-month contract, etc. Prof. Thakur initially came for three years but spent eight. Today he is a successful businessman in the Midwest, USA among his children, grandchildren and old friends and delighted to be home, enjoying travelling.
While on vacation in Guyana, in August 2000, friends suggested that he apply for the Directorship of the soon-to-be-opened campus. He did apply with not much thought of getting the job, especially when several weeks went by into the semester. Prof. Thakur was contemplating retirement, having already taught over thirty-seven years, over thirty of those at university level and three of those at the Faculty of Education, University of Guyana, 1967-1970. The Faculty began in 1967 under the leadership of Prof. Shirley Gordon. Prof. Thakur earned a Bachelor of Science, Two Master’s (Education Administration and Educational Psychology) and a Doctor of Philosophy from New York University, 1975. He has written a number of books and papers, several on Psychology (General, Book of Readings, etc), several on Hinduism, etc. His most exciting writing will be about his experience at the University of Guyana, and especially the Berbice Campus, 2000-2008.
September, 2008 began without a Director at the Campus. Dr. Prem Misir, the Pro-Chancellor, on October 8, called Prof. Thakur at his home on the Corentyne, explaining the need for someone to tide over the administration of the Campus, until a new Director can be found. Dr. Misir spoke with some urgency and asked Prof. Thakur to come down to Georgetown the same day (Thursday). When he arrived there were expressions of more urgency. A letter of job offer and contract had  been already prepared. Further, Dr. Misir requested that Prof. Thakur turn out to the campus the next day. Prof. Thakur quietly agreed, but only after he had completed some personal business. He signed the contract and left it with the Pro-Chancellor. The following day, Friday, he arrived at the Tain Campus at about 11:00AM, only to find the gate locked and the Acting Director requested he not be allowed in. To avoid any confrontation, Prof. Thakur went to the other site at Johns, sending a note to the campus staff about the new arrangements. He then called Dr. Misir in Georgetown to explain the local situation. Dr. Misir emphatically said, “Rishee can’t do that,” and said he will call Prof. Thakur the following Monday. No call or letter came and none came for the next month, when the Pro-Chancellor told  Prof. Thakur that a new  director had been found and Prof. Thakur should step aside. When asked about the agreed contract, he became irate and said he will pay for a day, since Prof. Thakur had worked at least part of the day. No money was ever paid and no more was said on the matter.
In the fall of 2008 Prof. Thakur anxiously awaited word from the Pro. Chancellor. In the meantime, he sought to clear himself of all obligations, material and financial, to the university. Apparently none of the documents were sent to Turkeyen, or they were ignored. Months later, he appeared in person to resolve the matter at the bursary. It was no time to haggle and UG claimed they had the records.  A compromise was made and Prof.Thakur was willing to take what was offered, knowing that his hands were in the tiger’s or alligator’s mouth. He left bemoaning the arrogant treatment meted out. A phone call to the bursary about some questions on the payment was met with a rebuff, when he said, “Tell him I am not here.” This is not an unusual response. On the matter of his return passage and passage for his spouse nothing was done. The bursar said he must first receive a recommendation from the Personal Officer, who refused to take any action.
On September 30, 2000 on signing his contract, Prof. Thakur was paid for his trip from the United States to Guyana, with a ten Thousand dollars (G) settling allowance. For his return passage all kinds of games were devised. According to Mr. Tota Mangar, the Personnel Officer wanted evidence that Mrs. Thakur had been in Guyana. The woman volunteered for six years part-time at the campus and even took full charge of the 2002 Diaspora Conference. Hundreds of people got to know her. She even taught the office help how to operate some of the new machines. The Vice-Chancellor called to tell her to get out of the campus as she “was making trouble”; information received from the underground. Dr. James Rose, Vice Chancellor never called the Director, but in an insolent manner told his wife to get out of the campus. Apparently, this was not enough evidence of her being in Guyana.
In mid-2009, Prof. Thakur went with an envelope to the Personnel Officer with the evidence (Air Line Tickets, Visa, Etc.). The white envelope was totally ignored as she said that the acting Vice Chancellor was in New York and she could do nothing about it. Prof. Thakur left quite despondent at the malevolence. Of necessity he had to depart Guyana, because his wife was undergoing emergency surgery at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. The pattern of vindictiveness was now becoming quite clear and he sought legal advice. On his return to Guyana a last ditch effort was made to see the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Carrington, who was cordial.
On September, 2009 Prof. Thakur went to see the acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Carrington, explaining the circumstances, with the intent that the matter would be resolved. Prof. Carrington explained that he was new to the job and was not familiar with that case. He asked for something is writing. Prof. Thakur, in a few days, sent a letter to the acting Vice Chancellor. In about a week, a reply came saying that the letter had been sent for legal advice, presumably to Cameron and Shepherd. Subsequently, a letter and two phone calls to Prof. Carrington’s office received no reply. It is now over eighteen months and not a word from the Vice Chancellor.
It is unfortunate that Prof. Thakur’s attorney has already taken up that matter. However, it is most vexing that men and women in supposedly our highest academic institution and with some integrity can and conduct themselves with such malice and ill-will. Prof.Thakur must pay an attorney to recover what is rightly his, but so must the University, which has already and needlessly spent money to deal with a matter that does not belong in the courts, but in the minds of rational beings. The government must needlessly waste its time and costly efforts to resolve this seemingly simple issue of fulfilling a written contract. This low-bred and menial gamesmanship has now reached the public domain and no one will be a winner, especially the University of Guyana, which supposedly has an obligation and responsibility to fulfil its legitimate duties. As of date Prof. Thakur is to be paid his return passage, coming and returning of his spouse and not the least the written contract given to him by the Pro Chancellor in October, 2008.