Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 14, 2014 News
…as Emeritus Professor calls for improved financial benefits
“We are not a country that likes to speak truth, we’re a country marked by more lies and
half-truths than other countries I know,” was the conviction of Emeritus Professor Winston McGowan, as he delivered the feature address at the University of Guyana’s ‘2014 Long Service Award’ Ceremony.
And according to him, one of the truths about Guyana is that the University has been a very, very difficult place.
“Anybody who has worked 20, 25, 30, 35 years, you’re really worthy of the highest awards,” an outspoken McGowan told his audience in the Education Lecture Theatre on Thursday evening.
At the event, held under the theme “Serving UG with our hearts,” McGowan informed that the awardees were being recognised for their endurance, fortitude, personal sacrifice, and above all, commitment. Moreover, he noted that “I speak sincerely when I commend you for your many years of prolonged service to this institution”.
He pointed out that of the 27 awardees, a total of 24 had in fact joined the institution after 1983, with the remaining three having assumed their appointments in the 1970s. He made this distinction to amplify that the history of the University is nestled in two notable phases.
“All of us know that it began at Queen’s College in 1963, came to Turkeyen in 1969, and I believe from 1969 to the end of the seventies was the first of two major phases that this University went through, and all except three of you, you are part of the second phase,” McGowan reflected.
He is however of the view that the first phase was the best phase of the University.
“I say without any fear of contradiction that the best years of this University would have been 1970 and the late 1970s…as an institution, academically, and every other way, that was the outstanding period.”
But the best years, as remembered by McGowan, were nevertheless the most politically turbulent period ever faced by the University.
“I remember vividly the reaction to the compulsory introduction of National Service for students. I remember many other things, all of them clouded by the relentless but ultimately unsuccessful struggle that many of us were involved in for the appointment of Walter Rodney… the most internationally acclaimed Guyanese scholar…denied a place at this University,” McGowan recounted.
According to Professor McGowan, all this took place in the 1970s, after which the University entered a period of slow decline.
“I wouldn’t say continuous decline, because the period of decline was punctuated by times of stagnation,” he said, as he underscored that “this was by far the more challenging phase of the University.”
“For you to have worked 25 years, 30 years, most of you except for the three, in this second challenging phase, is worthy of the highest commendation…I really mean that.”
But without much else to tell the longstanding workers, some of whom, were his colleagues prior to his exit from the University a few years ago, the Emeritus Professor shared the words of a very popular Christian hymn, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done…”
Moreover, he told the awardees that having served for all those years they should now seek to count their blessings in the midst of many negative occurrences. Among the worthy blessings, he outlined, was the opportunity to give long service to the principal tertiary education institution in the country, pointing out that “Guyana has only one university despite what I hear people say and I see advertised…there is only one University, and you have had the opportunity to serve at this University.”
He went on to point out that Guyana is one of the few countries that has benefited widely from the service of a single institution “despite the bad press that we often get”. Notwithstanding, he insisted that Guyana has been able to benefit “because you have made a substantial contribution and that should give you a sense of real satisfaction.”
Blessings that can be embraced also could be that of patriotism and loyalty, McGowan noted, as he pointed out that Guyana is a country that has experienced massive outward migration. As such, he noted that although patriotism and loyalty can easily be deemed a lost value, this has evidently not been the case at UG.
“You didn’t have to stay; you have chosen to stay,” asserted McGowan, as he pointed out that in the 21st Century, efforts must be made to ensure that staffers become eligible for an improved financial entitlement after serving for many years. Continuing a trend that does not show an improvement in the financial benefit will in fact be an indictment on the University, McGowan told his audience, including Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi and Deputy vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Dr Barbara Reynolds.
Among those being honoured for 35 years of service were Ms Michela Cumberbatch and Ms Cheryl Edinboro. Latchman Sukdeo was posthumously awarded. Sukdeo at the time of his death held the position of Senior Bookbinder attached to the University’s library. He was killed earlier this year when the driver of a forklift collided with the motorcycle he was riding.
Staffers honoured for 30 years were Mr Oswald Aaron, Ms Syndrene Harris, Mr Rayman Khan and Ms Jacqueline Morris. Those honoured for 25 years of service were Ms Bernadette Ageday, Ms Jasrodra Babooram, Mr Phillip Da Silva, Ms Marcellin D’Aguiar, Ms Barbara Holder, Ms Niebert Paul, Ms Gracelyn Simmons, Ms Hamawatie Singh and Ms Tagebrittie Singh-Jaichand. There were also 11 staffers honoured for 20 years of service including Ms Vera April, Dr Paulette Bynoe, Ms Leila Carrington, Ms Sandra France, Ms Nicole Grant, Ms Dawn Lashley, Ms Shawn Long, Professor Keith Massiah, Ms Lorraine Mc Leod, Dr Rishee Thakur and Ms Florentia Wilson.
Regarding the awards ceremony as a “ritual” Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Reynolds, sought to emphasise its significance which she noted should be “recognised by all of us.” She pointed out that in the context in which UG operates financially and logistically it takes commitment, dedication, tenacity, obstinacy and a great deal of optimism for the longstanding awardees to have served for the number of years they have.
“The significance of your doing that is not just in the longevity, it’s in the quality of the service you’ve provided to the university and by extension to our country, and for this reason we are here to salute you,” Dr Reynolds told the awardees.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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