-Minister Manickchand says at opening of “50 Years of Girls” exhibition

CELEBRATING 50 years of Girls at Queen’s College (QC), Minister of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD), Priya Manickchand, delivered the feature address at the opening of Queen’s College’s “50 Years of Girls” exhibition.

Minister Manickchand, who is an alumna having attended from 1987 to 1992, was a proud member of Durban House. Her children, who currently attend the institution, and their father, are all members of Pilgrim House.

In her address, the minister reflected on the legacy of the college and the responsibility that comes with being part of its rich history.

According to her ministry, Minister Manickchand posed a thought-provoking challenge to current students and the alumni alike: “As I close, I ask you: what is the college we would like to see? What is the QC we would like to see? What human product should live here? What kind of training ground are we to imagine and to realise on this campus? I’d like to see a college where the girls and boys who pass through these halls grow into women and men who understand that with the great privilege of attending this institution comes an equally great responsibility; to be socially, politically, and personally accountable. To be responsible to yourself, to your peers, and especially to those who never had the opportunity to come here.”

The minister continued to express that she would like to see a college that nurtures courage; where students and alumni are unafraid to speak up, to lead, and to hold people and leaders accountable, regardless of the consequences. A college that shapes individuals who look out for each other and for the wider society, always pushing for a better country.

“That, to me, is the true spirit of Queen’s College,” the minister said.

Minister Manickchand’s words served as both a tribute and a call to action, reminding the audience that Queen’s College has long stood as more than an academic institution, but a place where ideals are shaped, values are tested, and leaders are born.

As the school celebrates ’50 Years of Girls at Queen’s College’, her message resonated deeply, urging students and alumni to continue building on the foundation laid by those before them, to honor the legacy of excellence, and to use their education as a force for good.

Just last October, the institution celebrated its 180th anniversary where it was highlighted that the school commenced as a Grammar School for boys. In 1854, QC relocated to the site which is now occupied by The Bishops’ High School, and later in 1918, it moved once again to a larger facility in order to accommodate a greater number of students at a location that is presently the Ministry of Health Brickdam, Georgetown.

The college was eventually relocated to its current site at Thomas Lands, Georgetown, in 1954. Throughout the years, QC has maintained a number of distinctive traditions and customs that are still unparalleled in other schools in Guyana.

The 50th milestone serves not only to reflect on how far the institution has come since girls first entered its halls, but also to envision a future where equality, leadership, and service remain at the heart of the QC experience.