SASENARINE Tomby, 20, the son of a cane- harvester graduated as top student when the University of Guyana (UG) Berbice Campus hosted its 14th Convocation exercise yesterday.

A week ago, Sachin Ramsuran of Patentia, West Bank Demerara, the only child for his parents, graduated as top student of the UG Turkeyen Campus.
In his valedictorian address,Tomby urged his fellow graduates to stay and serve Guyana.
The lively ceremony was punctuated by musical renditions from the Guyana Police Force band and had in attendance Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, his wife Sita Nagamootoo, staff of the Berbice Campus, and relatives and well-wishers of the 187 graduating students.
Tomby, throughout his school life performed exceptionally well, but attracted attention when he secured 11 Grades One in the 2011 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
A past student of J C Chandisingh Secondary school, the young scholar called on his colleagues to help stop the brain drain.
“I am taking the opportunity to urge the class of 2015 to stay. Make it your ultimate goal to develop Guyana, make it your ultimate goal to see it reach the required standards,” he said.
The young man intends to further his studies to better serve his country.
A product of Belvedere South, Corentyne, Tomby is the son of Rishi Tomby, a cane- harvester and Miniwattie Budram, a housewife.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Saturday told the graduands and staff of the Tain Campus that while the government of the day has an obligation to ensure certain facilities of the university are in place, it would not interfere in its governance.
According to the Prime Minister, it is understood that for the university to move forward, there must be changes at the administrative level to achieve best practices and international standards.
But focusing attention back on the graduating class, he said: “This is your day today and all tomorrow will belong to you and those who come after you. As you leave here, you will [feel] as if a burden has come off your shoulders and your heads [will] feel lighter.”
The Prime Minister urged the graduates to further their studies and to always have their country at heart.