| — Reports of VC hospitalization dampen meeting to end industrial actionIntense industrial action at the University of Guyana (UG) might very well be proving to be too much for Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Jacob Opadeyi. This is in light of the fact that the VC was checked into the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) reportedly with heart-related complications.A section of the students gathered in the GWLT yesterday.While this publication was not able to ascertain the extent of his ailment, this publication understands that the VC was kept overnight at CHI where he underwent close observation. Reports are that he was discharged yesterday and was resting at home.But while the VC was recuperating, yesterday the students of the university and campus staffers, along with members of its alumni,2018 NFL Draft Jersey, were busy discussing whether industrial action that commenced by staffers last week, effectively halting most classes at the tertiary institution, would continue.At a meeting in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), the gathering awaited the arrival of Vice Chancellor Opadeyi but he never showed. It was expected that Professor Opadeyi would have offered a reason or reasons enough why the staffers led by their unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) – should cease a sit-in action that commenced last week to retaliate a collapse in negotiations for salaries and other benefits.Of course the unions had every intention of insisting that staffers continue their industrial action should their demands not be met by Council. The Council following a meeting last week issued a statement that classes would resume yesterday.Attempting to address the sizeable gathering in the GWLT yesterday, was Deputy Vice Chancellor (Planning and Development), Dr. Elizabeth Ramlall. She had quite a task to make her presence felt because of a malfunctioning Public Address system. She was the one who would announce to the gathering the reason for the Vice Chancellor’s absence.Immediately in the wake of the announcement, a number of attendees vacated the Lecture Theatre. Many of those who remained became rather disgruntled. They questioned why mail were sent out to students informing them that classes would resume, which they eventually discovered was not true.Based on another mail sent out, the VC was scheduled to address the gathering ahead of a Question and Answer segment that should have lasted no more than 15 minutes.And the gathering became even more disgruntled when the Deputy Vice Chancellor seemed unable to give answers to all of the questions asked of her. In fact the 15 minutes that was initially allotted for questions was considerably reduced.The student representative on Council, Ms. Elsie Harry, took to the stage. She made clear her disappointment at the fact that the students were deceived. She reminded students of their rights, the prevailing conditions under which they were made to exist and further urged them to speak up and support any action deemed necessary to have their concerns adequately addressed.Students of the University voiced a list of concerns and demands which were spearheaded by student Mario Joseph and the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) President Joshua Griffith.Together they outlined the immediate students’ demands, which they insisted must be met before they (students) return to classes.Among the demands is the need for the University administration to immediately address the delay in the release of student grades,Wholesale Jerseys, resolve and implement a system with adequate ancillary staff, to regularly clean the washrooms, perhaps every two hours.The students are also calling for the immediate equipping of the university with sufficient materials for the washrooms such as toilet paper, proper seat covers, hand towels or dryers and liquid soap, and maintaining of the said supplies. They are also demanding that moves be made forthwith to assess the plumbing of the university, to ensure its maximal functioning or allow for upgrades in line with the rehabilitation work of the washroom facilities.The students are also insisting that measures be immediately implemented to have the grass on the entire campus cut on a regular basis. De-bushing several parts of the campus such as the area between the Stables, George Walcott Lecture Theatre and Cheddi B. Jagan Building is also a requirement.They also called for the immediate opening of tender for construction/rehabilitation of the fence across the entire university campus, with the award of contracts and commencement of construction to begin within three months.Students of the University are also demanding the immediate open tendering of electrical re-wiring and construction contracts for the rehabilitation of the university library, catering for installation of multiple outlet sockets, with the award of contracts and commencement of construction also to begin within three months.The immediate opening of the tenders of construction contracts for the rehabilitation of classrooms that have deteriorated, was also a demand of the students, with the award of contracts and commencement of construction to begin within three months,Wholesale China Jerseys, even as they called for immediate completion of work on biochemistry and physiology labs and to commence work on the health science common room.Students yesterday also demanded the purchase of the necessary learning resources for practical learning and field work for faculties such as Health Sciences. Dentistry lights for students are included even as talks are pursued with each faculty regarding their specific needs.Further, the students are demanding that moves be made to resolve measures to bolster security on campus, in light of its embarrassing shortcomings highlighted by the recent robberies which occurred at the New Building Society Dormitories.Calls were also made for the urgent procurement, maintenance and installation of an adequate level of teaching materials inclusive, but not limited to laptops, projectors,Cheap NHL Jerseys, white boards, chalk boards, markers and chalk with Equipment could be extended to 2 months).And it is being demanded, by students, that measures be put in place to allow for the use of electrical outlets within the library for students’ laptops and smart electronic devices.In addition to addressing the dress code at the Berbice Campus, the students are also asking for the initiation of plans for the presence of permanent Medical Personnel on the Berbice Campus too.Immediately after the lecture hall was emptied,NFL Jerseys From China, students collected the “banner of shame” created to place over the university’s sign at the campus’ Sophia entrance.The students marched through the campus chanting words of revolution as they raised their concerns and disappointments. Students eventually placed the piece of black cloth labeled “We Want Value For Our Dollar #UGRevolution” and “Wake Up UG #UGRevolution” over the signboard,Cheap Air Max, before making their way back into GWLT where staffers later called to order their Offloading session. |
