University of Guyana responds to erroneous KN article

Oct 27, 2021 Letters

---

Dear Editor,

The University of Guyana notes with great concern an erroneous article appearing in today’s (Tuesday, October 26, 2021) and published widely which purports to report on the University of Guyana’s half-year spending for 2021. There are several glaring errors in this article with the potential to bring egregious harm to the reputation of the University and its officers through the following devices of misdirection and misinformation.
1. The article indicates the information published came from the University’s own website. This is un-factual. The University published no such information on its website or elsewhere.
2. The KN article actually misconstrues a procedural half-yearly report normally published by the Ministry of Finance on their website which states the following on page 21:
“The University of Guyana has expended $1.5 billion on the maintenance and operations of its two campuses. Of note, all programmes are now being delivered using an online platform, and for programmes that require laboratory sessions, a blended approach is being administered. A total of 8,610 students at the Turkeyen campus and 686 at the Tain campus are benefitting from online classes accessing over 1,558 courses”. This can be found by clicking the link here:https://finance.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Mid-Year%20Report%202021.pdf
3. The correct interpretation of the report is that the sum mentioned was spent for the first 6 months for the entire University operations including the operations of 6 Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) sites across the country delivering courses at the community level. It is a matter of public record that the University received $2.9 billion for its entire operations for 2021 in the last national budget. This was 60% of what it needed. It is also a matter of public record that the University received no subvention from the Government of Guyana in 2021 for capital and physical maintenance projects since there were three capital projects rolling over from 2020 due to COVID delays. Those projects are being completed this year. Therefore, the phrase “maintenance of its operations” mentioned in the Ministry of Finance’s report speaks to ALL the University’s costs including salaries, online services, maintaining the physical plant which service staff are using and which must still be maintained in good order for return, upgrades, etc. This is on target with the approved spending as the originating report would have indicated.
4. The Editors of the KN have been kindly asked to correct the article now that they have been appraised of the facts, issue an apology, and to give the correction the same prominence as the erroneous item they created and published.
5. The University once again wishes to draw attention to the exercise of best practices in journalism in checking sources, reporting accurately, and valid contextualisation so as to avoid causing harm and eliciting legal action. The University values its relationship with all its stakeholder’s including the media and the public and therefore reminds that any fact relating to the University or its operations can be fact-checked with the University 24/7 through the following avenues via its website at https://www.uog.edu.gy/ or the Public Relations Unit on 6235104 or via email at publicity.decc@uog.edu.gy.
Ms. Krest Cummings
Public Relations Officer
University of Guyana
Editor’s Note: While the University’s response has given a clearer understanding of its spending, and indeed we offer an unequivocal apology for any inaccuracies published, we hereby make it pellucid that no ill-will was intended. Also, we thank you for reminding us of the avenues through which we can access information should the need arise.

What are the GPL technicians waiting for?
Dear Editor,
I reside at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara. Recently I heard a sparking sound outside my home and looked out only to find that a bird’s nest nestled at the top of a utility pole is causing two wires to kiss thereby causing the sparking situation. Granted the sparking is not continuous but it is indeed worrying. So in hopes of having the situation addressed I decided to contact GPL via their Whatsapp number.
Long story short, technicians arrived, assessed the situation and decided that since they are too afraid of being “picked” by the birds they could not address the situation. A follow up complaint bore no fruit thus here I am writing this letter hoping that a “big one” at GPL will read it and ensure that necessary action be taken before God-forbid something undesirable occurs.
Name and address provided

---

---