~ Also protest lecturer's dismissal ~
GEORGETOWN, Guyana--University of Guyana students disrupted classes and hurled verbal salvoes at Council member, Indra Chandrapal who was on the Turkeyen Campus for an Appointments Committee meeting Tuesday.
Doors to main classrooms including the George Walcott Lecture Theatre, Small Lecture Theatre and the Law Building were padlocked, resulting in the postponement of a few classes.
A number of students said they were able to sit a test. The padlock was removed from the Law Building's door but classes were later disrupted by the students who marched around campus, chanting slogans.
When the staff and students learnt that Chandrapal was in the Learning Resource Centre, they defied staff members inside, pushed open the door, barged in and chanted down the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) Council representative.
"The Council Must Go," "Chandrapal Must Go," "Teixeira Must Go," and "Prem Misir Must Go," were among the chants that named members of the council.
Chandrapal, who should have been participating in a meeting with the Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Assistant Registrar, eventually left the campus but not before defending herself.
After initially avoiding television news cameras, she said she has always worked in UG's interest without receiving any payments.
President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Pat Francis confronted Chandrapal and accused her of lying about advancing the cause of the tertiary learning institution.
The students and staff then moved on to disrupt classes at the Law Building where a door was allegedly shoved open by a foreign student, hitting Francis. There was no visible sign of injury. Classes in the Faculty of Health Sciences were also disrupted.
Peeved at the termination of Political Science lecturer, Freddie Kissoon's contract, academic and non-academic staff and students are seizing the opportunity to press authorities to give in to several demands.
They include the de-politicizing of UG, improvements to the physical infrastructure including new and improved laboratories, improved hygiene and the hiring rather than the firing of competent lecturers.
The UGSSA, University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS) have come together to pursue "Operation Rescue UG". They have assured the students and workers that organisers would not engage in any action that would jeopardize their safety.
However, workers have been advised to spend wisely in the days ahead because protest action could intensify into a strike if demands for improved conditions are not met.
Government members and the UG administration have refused to divulge details behind the decision to terminate Kissoon's contract and refuse to offer him other employment terms and conditions even on a part-time basis.
However, well-placed sources said there have been concerns about the quality of his work and classroom conduct. Kissoon has, however, maintained that he is qualified and experienced and that he has an excellent research portfolio.
The Canadian-trained Political Scientist, according to the UGSS and other actors, believe that he has been fired because of he has been very critical of the PPPC administration.
Then President, Bharrat Jagdeo has sued Kissoon for calling him an ideological racist in the execution of government policies and programmes. (demerarawaves.com)
