A MAJOR disagreement at Queen’s College over the siting of a $35M multi-purpose complex has led to protests by the students and members of the Agricultural Science Department.Members of the Agricultural Science Department told the Guyana Chronicle that a $35M multi-complex facility will be erected to the south-east of the agriculture farm. The construction of this facility will encroach on 10 metres onto the plot, which according to the teachers and students of this department is already “too small”.
The protests began on Tuesday, November 15, when members of the Department sat in front of the farm in an attempt to stop the workers from breaking down the fence of the plot. According to members of the Department, “We were not informed of any such decision.”
Members of the Agricultural Science Department further stated that on Wednesday, November 16 all key stakeholders [the Board of Governors, teachers, students and Principal of the college] met and tried to reach a compromise. “The only compromises being made were those regarding our side.” This entailed actions to move the plot and continuing with the works for the construction of the Multi-complex facility.

A decision was however not made at this forum and further consultations were to be done, but on Thursday the contractors were seen “filling in the sand.” This action resulted in students of the college, teachers and members of the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) protesting, chanting various slogans including “Agree for Agri”, “Save the plot” and “Less Land, Less Food, Less Life.” They also took bold action by using spades and shovels from the plot itself to remove the sand.
Committee Member of the college’s PTA, Michele Fraser, highlighted that one major concern is that the students’ projects will be affected. She lamented that QC’s Golden Boy who is set to write about 25 subjects at next year’s CSEC Exams is now faced with having to redo his research project while having to juggle with his other subjects.
She also lamented that for the past few years Queen’s College has been receiving the Regional “Science Award” from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and Agricultural Science is a criterion for this award. Students also aired their concerns by highlighting that putting the complex- which will also house a cafeteria, will be “unhealthy” because the plot usually houses chicks and chickens. They also said that the “cement dust” will harm both the chicks and the students themselves, especially those who suffer from respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
This plot, which was only recently extended, houses the farming beds and research projects of the current 5th and 6th formers who are preparing to sit their CSEC and CAPE examinations next year. Students believe that the demolition of a fraction of the plot will result in the displacement of these projects and will hamper the farming activities of the other students from first to sixth forms.