The President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), Mr. Duane Edwards, seems to be alone with his denial that he was not part of the unanimous decision to rescind the illegal contract of a retired lecturer. I have a lingering suspicion that Mr. Edwards is being deliberately mischievous, either through his own volition, or as a response to the voluminous pressure he is receiving from opposition elements among his student population for sharing unanimity on the matter.

So far, there are four Council members (Indra Chanderpaul, Neermal Rekha, Gail Teixeira and Bibi Shadick) against one (Duane Edwards) in their account of what transpired at that Council meeting on January 18. We have not heard from nine other Council members who were at that meeting, and it is reasonable to conclude they are in concurrence with the account given by Chanderpaul, Rekha, Teixeira, and Shadick.

Without the benefit of the minutes of that meeting to give us an idea of the sentiments, mood and decision itself, one gets the impression that the majority of the fourteen members present, without putting the matter to a vote, agreed not to re-employ the retiree. Mr. Edwards cannot deny this fact.

In the university circles, it is said that Mr. Edwards’ only contribution to the matter was a question about the students of that particular lecturer, when he was reminded of the university’s policy to deal with students whose lecturers are absent.  Unless the UGSS President interprets his question as an objection, it would be dishonest for him to deny his participation in a unanimous decision. This has serious implications for his credibility.

It is a pity the University of Guyana is being used to advance political fortunism. After a week of protestation by some sections of the UG society against the Council decision, we have seen the emergence of ‘opportunistic’ tendencies.

With the injection of extraneous issues to the Council decision which brought about the consternation in the first place, those in the forefront have revealed their hands. No doubt, in the minds of many of us, this is an extension of the political ramblings.