I WISH to address the present imbroglio involving the University of Guyana Council and the embattled former lecturer Fredie Kissoon. Firstly, it is the informed practice of all “civilised” tertiary institutions to set up a board, council or what have you to manage the affairs of staffing. Strangely enough, the University of Guyana follows this convention. I say ‘strangely enough’ because this has been the order of things since the inception of that university and the present nonsense of the Council being illegal and biased is quite a joke because that’s the way things are done worldwide.

Secondly, the hiring, firing or retention of the service of anyone, and I repeat anyone, is the sole responsibility of that Council. Therefore, I cannot countenance the noise-making of a bunch of claptraps for the forced reinstatement of a lecturer which the collective decision of the said Council has relieved him of.

Why is there a protest, for what reason may I ask? Is Kissoon the first lecturer to be terminated by that institution? There are guidelines governing the retention of a lecturer which, in this case, leaves much to be desired so they have done the right thing in releasing him or firing him, whatever the terminology one would wish to use, from the institution.

From information gleaned in the press, this lecturer should have vacated the post over a year ago but for the intervention of the Vice-Chancellor who retained him.  Again, I must remind my readers that this is a contravention of the university’s policy; the Vice-Chancellor cannot arbitrarily appoint individuals – that is not his responsibility.

He can recommend someone, but the real hiring is the Council’s responsibility.  Clearly, Carrington has overstepped his boundary and should have been sanctioned for this. Nevertheless, the university tolerated his appointee for another year. So what’s their gripe? I am sure he would not have dared such an act was he at the UWI. So why do such nonsense here?  Clearly this shows the contempt Carrington has for UG.

Concerning the four members appointed by the government to sit on the council, this is their sovereign right to add their opinion on all matters done there, whether it is the appointment or disappointment as they consider appropriate.

So this newly found view of the four being political appointees is utter trash. That is the way all government-funded institutions everywhere conduct their affairs. For the record, why is the view of the four members of so much consequence when there are 10 others to contend with? Isn’t this a clear sign that those who are protesting are merely making a political stunt rather than anything of substance?

I strongly urge the Council members to stand their ground if the rules of the university are to be respected or standards are to be upheld. Failing this, our university would have fallen victim to mob justice or forever made  to dance to the whims and fancies of a bunch of hooligans.