DEMOCRACY and free expression were restored to Guyana in 1992 thanks to the PPP/C Government. It is something we cherish and hold sacred and should be reflected in the spirit of what we think, say or do in this great nation. This cherished achievement was not handed to us on a platter. It was a hard fought-for gain often with our blood, sweat and tears, so we know how sacred and important it is for us here in Guyana to keep democracy alive. However, I am afraid, this hard earned gain is being squandered, albeit sacrificed at the altar of political expediency and outright lawlessness when the word democracy can be prostituted to mean  “de mockery we see.”
I make this remark when you view the actions of a few misguided out of place individuals. And thank God we only have a few of them around, because I shudder to think that this constitutes normal behaviour at our country’s premier institution. Recent scenes of padlocked doors, the blocking of the main entrance to students wanting to go about their legitimate business, even the assault of a duly elected official of the University are all symptomatic signs of democracy gone mad.
Then, the interpretation or should I say misinterpretation of freedom by that group is anything goes. In the first place John public out there wanted to know the real aim for the uprising. Was it that “bullying call” for the immediate reinstatement of a disgraced lecturer or the deplorable conditions at the university, what exactly was it? The plain truth was they wanted to coerce the University’s council to rescind their decision in the Kissoon case, but when they realised that the Council had every right to do what they did and were in no mood to back down, the lyrics of their tune suddenly changed to a protest against the deplorable conditions at the University.

Now, let’s take the second case scenario of protesting the conditions at the University, its physical plant and otherwise. Aren’t there institutions or committees set up to look into such issues and through which, one’s claim/s can be properly channeled? Of course there are, but this ‘yard fowl’ behaviour which is a characteristic trademark of that group would not stop to explore those avenues. Their obstinacy, fuelled by crass stupidity exposed the University to negative publicity as well as the students’ loss of valuable class time. Certainly this is not behaviour to be entertained by persons who are supposedly learned, more so professionals. Let me sober up those political comrades of UG with a story that took place at the University of the West Indies some years ago.
The students and teachers of the Cave Hill Campus were having some difficulties, as all institutions do have from time to time with administration, when one Lecturer Dr Rosemary Antoine Anthony, wife of the Prime Minister of St Lucia took it upon herself to mount a protest. It was a peaceful protest bereft of all the cursing and hostility that was evident in the UG protest, yet the police quickly moved in and arrested the ringleader.
She was handcuffed and placed in a police van and later detained at the local police station. Please note, we are talking about a law professor and the wife of the Prime Minister, someone who everyone knew, and a person who posed no threat to society, yet the Bajan police treated her the way they would any common criminal. Why did the Bajan police treat her that way is a clear sign that they do not want their University to descend into chaos, the typical low class behaviour that is a household name here in Guyana.
Their contention is rules are rules, procedures that have to be followed, norms to be upheld whenever one wishes to mount a protest. Irrespective of the individual in the picture, once that tight rope of decency is not adhered to, the resultant action to stop the lawlessness will follow. That is why I asked the question, was Carrington at UWI could he as much as fantasized with the idea of bypassing Council’s decision and still be an employee there? So why do it at UG?

The point is clear. Carrington knew fully well he was in Guyana and in the company of persons who love to make public their political ambitions, in the baseless of fashion, and get away with it, so the learned professor promptly joined in the fray. Let me say this in closing, Guyana still has standards though miniscule it may seem and the best place for it to begin is at the tertiary level.