THE Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) on Wednesday met with University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor (VC), Professor Dr. Jacob Opadeyi to discuss several concerns submitted by the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS). His immediate actions and intentions were sought to be clarified. 

A release sent by the PYO noted that a list of concerns was sent to their organisation by UGSS President Joshua Griffith, after a brief consultation with him. The president and his team were previously invited to attend a meeting to discuss students’ welfare with youth leaders from the PYO; however, the team had failed to show.
The PYO delegation which was led by its new Chairman, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, and included youth leaders from across the country, gave its commitment to the Vice Chancellor to undertake several projects for the betterment of the students and their environs.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to youth development in our country. We understand their needs and we will continue to lobby these needs so that they can lead more productive lives. UG remains an area of special interest for us, given its history, and we will champion the needs of the students there,”Ali told the VC.

Among the projects the PYO plans to undertake is the construction of a new four-foot walkway from the gate of the Turkeyen Campus to the Education Lecture Theatre, so that students will not be discomforted when it rains and the campus floods. Also, the commencement of a project that would see PYO youths and other members of civil society engaging in the initial cleaning of the campus and the weeding of the overgrown brushes and grass will be another project.
The PYO plans to further pursue the drainage and irrigation needs of the campus by working closely with the Vice Chancellor’s office and the Public Works Ministry, through assessments and discussions on plans regarding these concerns.
They also plan to donate a number of large, white boards to be installed in various lecture theatres on campus.
The organisation further pledged to continue lobbying the UG administration to address other urgent and pressing issues which affect the well-being and livelihoods of UG Students.
In return, Vice Chancellor Dr. Opadeyi expressed his willingness to work with all stakeholders who have UG’s interest at heart, and he further updated the PYO on his action plan to address the physical and academic aesthetics of the university; the calls by workers’ unions for a salary increase; the spate of development and infrastructural projects that are to commence shortly; the release of students’ grades; and several other issues.
“All are involved, all are consumed,” he said, while welcoming the assistance offered by the PYO. (Raveena Mangal)