THE University of Guyana (UG) on Thursday commissioned a spanking new $74M lecture theatre with a capacity to accommodate some 350 students, at the Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown.

The building is located between the Cheddi Bharrat Jagan Lecture Theatre and the Centre for Information Technology.
UG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, said the university is in transformation mode, embracing multiple constituencies to assist in teaching, research and connectivity to further develop the campus.

He thanked the Ministry of Education for its financial support and underscored the need for Public-Private Partnerships to take the university forward.
Professor Griffith also urged the students to see the new buildings as their own.
“I am making a plea to the students and the staff to see this as ours, to take care of it, every time we have to spend money to repainting something after two months, it is money that is not available for something else; every time we have to replace stolen equipment, its money not available for something else,” he said.

Professor Nigel Harris said the building is designed in a friendly setting that students will enjoy and will enhance the quality of their education.
He explained that Guyana is on the cusp of change, as the oil and gas sector unravels with resources and possibilities.
“The ability to capitalise on what is possible is one that we have to tend to in every possible way… resources may later become available not only to transform the infrastructure of the university, but the people who also come here as links are being built,” professor Harris said.
He said the new building is the first step of great things to come.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, said upon completion of the Commission of Inquiry into the education system, relevant changes will be made based on the findings to assist in the further development of education.
The minister said students need strong motivation and there is need for curriculum reform at the nursery level to the Cyril Potter College of Education.
University of Guyana Students Society President, Ron Glasgow, who also spoke, thanked the Education Ministry for its role in making the theatre a reality.
He said on campus there is a need for more lecture theatres and the university has the land to do so.