WHEN I think about the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS), I think of a certain political party in our midst, which I believe has outlived its purpose. That party today has been struggling to survive and to stand its ground; so it is with the UGSS. This organization is supposed to be actively pursuing student welfare issues and other university matters but sadly, the UGSS has somehow disappeared, evaporated, and vanished from public view. This is one of the most pathetic organizations I have ever seen which demonstrates the poorest leadership available to the world today. Sometimes I wonder if they [the ineffective leaders of UGSS] ran for office to gain power only to sit on their laurels and enjoy the free tuition money entitled to the President of the UGSS during the period in office.
They come and interrupt our classes in Berbice to preach their election garbage and promise us the world, then disappear and we never see or hear from these fellas again. This is a poor expression and demonstration of behaviour and ethics from tertiary- educated people.
The Berbice UGSS was launched in March, but this office, too, I believe has become defunct and another act of bettering students’ lives on campus in futility, gone to waste. I will have to have a serious discussion with Professor Samad about the way forward about that office.
But the UGSS does nothing for the student population of the University of Guyana. I am ashamed to have voted those individuals in office; [I]wasted my time and energy to listen to their empty speeches, never again! They also remind me of a certain trade union in Guyana. The UGSS has no way to disseminate information about policies (do they have any??), news, or keep in touch with members, and to think I pay student fees each semester!!! And to think my hard- earned money was going towards a worthwhile initiative and an organization that was worth its salt!
Students have so many issues which need attention from university authorities and the Student Society has failed miserably to address same. I only received my Semester II grades for Year 2 last week. In fact, I did not receive it; I had to take time out from my busy schedule to visit the Berbice Campus to read it on the notice board. Now, on our Online registration profiles, there is a space for academic profiles and grades. Why could not our grades be posted online so we can log into our accounts and check them in the convenience of our homes? This is how it is done overseas. But in Guyana, we have the predisposition that Guyanese have a lot of time to waste and so, we make them travel unnecessarily all over to transact business, and read UG grades on the notice board. I expect nothing better from this university and for them to keep up their end of the bargain, since my annual tuition payments are always on time, always.
Also, it is nearing  the start of the new UG academic year, and registrations for Year 3 students have not been completed as yet. The registration process is stuck at Document Verification. It might happen the night before UG reopens. This nonsense and lack of planning at UG has got to stop. It’s looking very bad on this university, but I believe the current leadership, as well as the UGSS, is quite comfortable with how things are going.