| ….several lecturers threatened with marching orders/termination The University of Guyana Workers’ Union through action spearheaded by its Chairman Bruce Haynes and Vice Chairman Frederick Kissoon and others, are seeking to fend off what the body calls “the most vicious political assault on the University since its birth.”The assault,Austin Hooper Falcons Jersey UK, according to the Union members, entails the unlawful dismissal of several University lecturers.Sources close to the wrangling state that while no individual has so far been named it is believed that the targets of the attack would be persons perceived to be sympathetic to the political opposition.The union reported, yesterday,Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys, that the government’s representatives on the Council of the University of Guyana with the exception of Indra Chandarpal,NCAA Football Jerseys, signed a petition to the Chancellor requesting an extraordinary meeting of the Council.At that meeting which occurred just over a week ago, Government’s representatives Gail Teixeira; Phulandar Khandai, PS, Ministry of Education; Dr. Gancham Singh, of the Georgetown Hospital; PPP Member of Parliament, Bibi Shadick and Dr. Prem Misir reportedly requested the Vice Chancellor to immediately terminate the contracts of a number of lecturers.According to the union representatives the Vice Chancellor has no power to issue contracts without ratification by the Council and as was explained to the Government representatives, “the Vice Chancellor acts on behalf of the University in the absence of Council.”It was further explained that at the beginning of the academic year, in order to acquire lecturers, the Vice Chancellor acts when Council is not in session.“This is commonsense in management science since lecturers are needed to teach courses at the beginning of the school year…It would be a disaster to wait until Council meets to get the university classrooms moving…This is not the way universities the world over operate.”According to the Union members this was explained to the representatives “but they want the termination to go ahead and are insisting on their demand.”The union representatives have reported that the Registrar pointed out to them that the University semester is in progress.“The Union would like to state that if the University accedes to the request of the Government, it will be nine weeks into the current semester.”According to the Union should this happen it would mean the “complete disruption of a number of classes; inability of the University to find adequate replacements; the students who pay for their education would be badly affected.The union took the opportunity to state that “the University would like to inform the Guyanese nation that all the lecturers involved are highly qualified, have long service in teaching with the University; were legitimately selected by the University by submission of their curriculum vita are not appointed over and above more qualified applicants and hold legal contracts at the moment.”The Union stated that it is of the view that the Council members are acting on an edict issued high up in the structure of Government and is designed to get at certain lecturers because of the election campaign.“The Union is of the opinion that so egregious is this edict that it surpasses the depravity of the rejection of an appointment for Dr. Walter Rodney by the Burnham Government…In that situation,Deion Sanders Falcons Jersey, Dr. Walter Rodney’s non-appointment occurred long before the start of academic classes.”The Union reiterated that in the present scenario, there will be major disruptions at UGThe union reported that its Vice-Chairman made contact with Dr. Emmanuel Cummings, a member of the Appointments Committee and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.Dr. Cummings has joined the ruling party for the elections and has reportedly stated that he is not in agreement with what is currently being done and indicated that he will seek to have dialogue with the relevant authorities“The Union has shown the contracts to its lawyers who have informed us that they are legal covenants that must be upheld by the University…The Union will seek the intervention of the courts if these horrible attacks on the University succeed.”In the meantime the Union is calling on stakeholders, including the UG community,Andrew Franks Dolphins Jersey, the opposition parties, the student movement throughout Guyana,NCAA Baseball Jerseys, the Private Sector and the academics at regional universities to issue a statement of condemnation after they have completed their investigation into “this horrendous attack on academic freedom and the University of Guyana.”The Union emphasized that it is strong in its resolve that “it will not allow this act of madness to go un-protested.” |
