President joins early morning walk – to mark UG’s 50th anniversary

Georgetown, GINA, October 26, 2013

President Donald Ramotar joined a large contingent for an early morning talk from Queen’s College to the University of Guyana, as activities to mark the tertiary institution’s 50th anniversary continue.

           From its starting point, the march proceeded east along Carifesta Avenue onto the Rupert Craig Highway and south onto the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus with music from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) marching band.

Among the participants were First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Mexican Ambassador Francisco Olguin, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King and members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Attorney at Law and Alliance for Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes also joined the walk, and spent a few moments interacting with the Head of State.

There was a large representation from Government ministries and private organisations 

The walk was symbolic of the road the country’s prized tertiary institution has taken, from humble beginnings as the Cheddi Jagan night school at Queen’s College to an institution that has produced Guyanese of world renowned status.

President Ramotar who graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics was congratulated for attending the walk, and regarded among the country’s high achievers who attended the institution

Much of the University’s history achievements were reflected by those who delivered brief remarks at a simple ceremony at the campus following the walk. Among them were Former Ambassador Rudy Insanally, Prime Minister Hinds, UG’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi and Director of the Centre for Communication Studies, Dr. Paloma Mohamed.

Ambassador Insanally, who was a UG lecturer, during brief remarks, reflected on the way in which classes were conducted at that time.

He commended the late President Jagan for the vision to establish an institution of higher learning in Guyana, and the University itself for reaching a Golden Jubilee.

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs also used the occasion to address some of the issues challenging the University, and suggested ways in which these can be overcome. Chief among them is financing, which he said, is not specific to Guyana alone.

“Unfortunately, Governments of developing countries, with much call on their limited budgets are hard put to fund their universities as they should. We therefore have to think a little bit out of the box as they say to be able to reach our goals,” Insanally said.

He also shared President Ramotar’s recent sentiment that politics has been an impediment to UG’s accomplishments.

For Prime Minister Hinds, occasions such as the walk are reminiscent of the era when the struggle for independence was the main priority, and the trade union movement was most active.

As UG plots the way forward, Prime Minister Hinds highlighted the importance of the institution building partnerships.

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