THE University of Guyana’s Council has shortlisted four out of a list of 19 applicants for the post of Vice-Chancellor for the institution. I am very pleased and humbled to know that so many individuals, most of them from the international arena, could show interest in leading our prestigious university. Those applicants are persons coming from a backdrop of no mean academia, some with international acclaim well placed and well salaried. To leave all of that to come down to our humble abode here in Guyana tells me much of my Alma Mater. It tells me, that our university though battered and bruised, still commands the respect of a worldwide audience and for this we are proud. I say this because these eminent persons are well aware of all the problems facing the institution; its faults and failings financial and otherwise, the political tussle, not forgetting the negative publicity which some revel in. Yet, for all of this these sages would want to come to make here their abode.
This is excellent stuff, something in which Freddie Kissoon and his band of naysayers should pay keen interest. In fact, they are the ones who have been touting bad things about our university ever since that institution relieved itself of this moron. Their moronic rantings even went into the realm of calling the institution a glorified high school. But glorified high school or junior college I ask them to look at the list of applicants, all 19 of them and see the strides our university has made and go hang their heads in shame.
The President has said in his address at the University’s last convocation that he is committed to making the institution a world- class entity, well this latest enlistment is a great starter.
When all is said and done, UG belongs to all of us and we must do our part to make it a success story. Let us put our hands to the wheel and make this institution the best there is in this part of the globe.