In the early hours of this morning, the People’s Progressive Party Government used its slim majority in the National Assembly to pass an Amendment, which changes the composition of the University of Guyana’s Governing Council from 26 members to 32.

There were strong objections from the Parliamentary Opposition, which encouraged the Government to have the Amendment first sent to a Special Select Committee.

The motion piloted by Education Minister; Priya Manickchand, has amended Section 12 (12) of the University of Guyana Act.

The Amendments have resulted in a number of changes to the Act, including the expansion of the Governing Council by increasing number of persons who can be nominated by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from four to five, and the changes also include youth nominees as well as women, farmers, Amerindian and business nominees, which were already provided for.

Additionally, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) will now have a nominee on the Council while the Minister of Education can now nominate six persons instead of three to sit on the Council. The nominations from the Chancellor have decreased from six to four.

In opening the debate, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand said the move is to improve the efficiency of the University of Guyana.

She said the University continues to be plagued by complaints, and she believes that adding more members to the Council would serve in the best interest of the University.,

“I cannot imagine which of these persons they are going to object to sit on the council—is it youth they are going to object to? Is it religious bodies, is it National defence and security, is it FITUG they Opposition are going to object to? We are not removing anyone from this council we are adding persons to this Council so that we have a more inclusive council that could offer more to the University of Guyana,” the Education Minister said.

But Opposition Member of Parliament, Amanza Walton-Desir said the move by the Government is a sinister one. She explained that the manner in which the government is going about increasing the number reeks of partisan political interests.

Walton-Desir explained that if Government was genuine, it could have increased the numbers on the Council and give the Vice Chancellor the power to appoint the additional members based on agreed criterions set out.

“The fact, that we in this house are expected to believe given what the government has said that appointing all of these people will somehow result in the academic enhancement of the Council, that burden has not been discharged and to add if, political influence and partisan politics was not the motivation, then you could simply require the chancellor, if its is a certain calibre of people you want, you proscribe the chancellor’s discretion,” Ms. Walton-Desir noted.

But Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Charles Ramson, Jnr., said the Government cannot keep dolling out monies to UG, when concerns continue to be raised about operations and student’s welfare.

“We as government, we have to respond, and its not about dolling out money, it is about how money is spent. If you are you compare the University of Guyana’s performance versus our regional brothers and sisters and you can examine where those University rank in comparison and what are the facilities that they have,” Ramson stated.

However, Trade Unionist and Opposition Member of Parliament, Coretta Mc Donald stated that this move will have a negative effect on the University.

“Sir, the politicization of the tertiary education kills academic freedom and kills innovation. We di not need this at this time in Guyana’s history. The politization at the level of the University of Guyana can limit the autonomy of academic leaders and infringe upon academic freedom. Heads of Departments, faculties and lecturers may face pressure to align with specific political beliefs or face consequences for presenting diverse,” Mc. Donald stated.

The People’s National Congress, which is the largest party in the opposition coalition had flagged the move by the Education Ministry, making it clear that it is not supportive of the move, since it will lead to political interference of the University’s operations. 

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