I BEGIN my letter by saying one might be poor but this is not a licence for anyone to trample on you. This has been my motto throughout life which has caused me to be the great person I am. I have made the foregoing declaration as a response to a recent letter published in the Kaieteur News captioned ‘Public apology to Professor Carrington’ written by C.R Bernard. This writer went on a long baseless discourse, the text which in places beatifies the Vice Chancellor on the work done at the University of Guyana.

He refers to Carrington as a God sent to our University, one who should be revered worthy of our obeisance. For starters, I would like to know what, if any, of the great works this personality has done for UG?

Carrington is a retiree who was fortunate to find a job in Guyana to which he is obligated to deliver. Careful observation has revealed that he has not done so.

Ever since he came to these shores the learned professor has been meddling in Guyanese politics, and not in matters for which he was appointed. Added to this, he was strategically trying to make our University a subsidiary of the University of the West Indies, a plan which had to be shot down by the authorities here.

UG is a sovereign university and will remain that way poverty stricken as it may be. Carrington reminds me of the former US ambassador Roland Bullen who came to Guyana with his preconceived ideas of the government of the day, no wonder we are no closer to the truth about Roger Khan.

So what is the real cause for persons of the likes of Bernard with this sudden outpouring of praise for Carrington? It is another attempt by a group of claptraps who happens to inhabit the corridors of our premier institution. They form a group of subversive elements who are determined to play out their foolishness in whatever fora the opportunity avails them; it has nothing to do with the conditions at the university.
The conditions at UG have changed to some degree, I must admit, judging from the time I was there in the 80s. Because, when I studied there the LLT always leaked, there was always a lack of lecturers with tertiary qualifications and there were always government appointees on UG’s council so what’s their gripe? The fact is, they are peeved over the firing of Kissoon, their tune only changed when they realised that the Council was sticking to its decision to let him go and was not going to back down. Therefore, these Christopher Columbuses have now landed a discovery on the deplorable conditions that obtain.

What I can advise Bernard is to keep his servile mentality to himself and stick to the task of nurturing our next generation.

On a parting note seeing these people are so “overqualified” then certainly UG is not the place for them, go seek employment in areas of affluence. You might never know how good a change of environment might do to these souls?