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The Editor:
It is clear that there is only token ethnic inclusivity, diversity and equity at the University of Guyana (UG), as illustrated in its recently-launched Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Unit.
I was perusing the internet, when an advertisement from UG caught my attention: www.uog.edu.gy/newsletters/launch-university-guyanas-inclusivity-diversity-and-equity-policy-and-unit
The launch of UG’s Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Unit was later reported in one of the nation’s newspaper (GT, Nov 3, 2021).
The advertisement invited the public to the launch of its Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Policy and Unit.
Curious, I clicked the Zoom link, and the first address at the webinar was that of Vice-Chancellor, Paloma Mohammed. I thought “Brilliant!”, she ticks so many boxes: woman, Mixed-Guyanese, Muslim surname, passed her prime (middle-aged). This is what diversity looks like. But was she representative of the University, the launched Unit and the Guyanese society?
Next in the Zoom program was the guest speaker, the Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud. In hindsight, this was clearly window-dressing, when the membership of the Unit and University was examined.
Through and through, the Unit’s executive comprised mainly ethnic Africans, with only one token Indo-Guyanese. There was a total disregard, by the University of Guyana and the Unit, for the diversity of the Guyanese society, which is proportioned 40 percent East Indian; 30 percent African; 20 percent Mixed; and 10 percent Amerindian descent. Please don’t be fooled by last names. You have to see the person and/or the photos to get the real picture.
The Unit is composed of 10 people and only one (10%) is an Indo-Guyanese. It is chaired by Dr. Roslin Khan (Mixed); with the others being: Dr. Lidon Lashley; Dr Mellissa Ifill; Dr. C. Nigel Gravesande; Dr. Paulette Henry; Pamela Rose; Dr. Jacqueline Murray; Debbie Hopkinson; Leann Kendall; and Dr. Melisha Hanif (Indo-Guyanese). One can easily see that Indo-Guyanese are grossly underrepresented and discriminated, when they account for 40 percent of the Guyanese population.
See the ethnic composition of the University’s Statutory Officers from its website: Prof. Edward Greene, The Chancellor; Maj. Gen. Ret’d Joseph Singh, The Pro-Chancellor; Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, The Vice-Chancellor; Dr. Emanuel Cummings, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Engagement; Dr. Mellissa Ifill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement; Dr. Nigel Gravesande, Registar; Ms. Holda Poonai, Bursar; Prof. Gomathinayagam Subramanian, Director, University of Guyana Berbice Campus; Dr. Jacqueline Murray, Director, Institute of Distance and Continuing Education; Ms. Gwyneth George, Librarian; Dr. Troy Thomas, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Mr. Hector Edwards, Faculty of Social Sciences; Dr. Temitope Oyedotun, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Dr. Lawrence Lewis, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry; Dr. Cecil Boston, College of Medical Sciences (Faculty of Health Sciences); Dr. Roslin Khan (Mixed), Faculty of Education and Humanities; Ms Verlyn Klass, Faculty of Engineering and Technology; and Dr. Leyland Lucas , School of Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation. Note, again, that Indo-Guyanese account for 40 percent of the population.
When one examines the University’s website — (www.uog.edu.gy/) — and sees the student graduation online — (www.facebook.com/uniofguyana/videos/university-of-guyana-53rd-convocation-turkeyen-campus/482330325704753/) — this is the ethnic audit report: about 80 percent of the University of Guyana’s staff and students are non-Indians.
I am desirous of knowing how, and why, has this imbalance existed for so long, to become so entrenched and institutionalized?
Why didn’t the Jagan and Jagdeo PPP/C fix this divisive problem?
Which will be the university-educated group in the future?
Who will be left cutting cane, planting rice and catching fish in the backdam?
If this sounds like bigotry, one’s insensitivity is misplaced. The point is: equity is contained in the name of the Unit. There is no ethnic equity, and little inclusivity or diversity. Instead, there is racial domination, in all departments across the university, except a little leeway in the Natural Sciences and at the Berbice campus.
As the webinar progressed, it became more and more apparent that the Unit’s purpose was diversity in name only. It lacked diversity to such an extent, that even the moderator and sign language interpreter were Afro-Guyanese.
Sincerely,
Ms. Fatimah Mohammed
I wish to state, it is not only the University of Guyana (UG) as a National (State or Semi Autonomous) Institution where this prevails.
However, I confine my discourse to the University of Guyana, for that is the focus of Miss Mohamed’s angst.
Until the advent of a flow of monies from OIL, all the administrations in Guyana were forced to play a balancing act as to how to maintain the necessary services to the PEEOPLE OF GUYANA. At no point in time was Government able to pay workers a salary concomitant with the role they played in society to allow them to live as their counterparts in most other societies, and those engaged in private enterprise in Guyana. Even though Oil is now a driver in our economic life, the wages and salaries offered at UG is still below that offered in many other other sectors of the Economy. For comparisons Take an Engineer employed at any of the Engineering Firms in the country or at Guysuco and one employed to Lecture at the University of Guyana.
In addition to the poor wages offered by Government because of the lack of resources in a big way what happened within the industrial climate their was dependent on the vicissitudes of the Government in Power.
If one considers that in most societies, where there is discontent the voices of those in professional ranks would be among the most vociferous. They have the means to let their voices be heard, and this is what The PNC while in power in the early 70s confronted, probably many of those employed then were indeed there because of the usual Kit and Kin situation known to us. However because of their voices of discontent there may have been a higher level of suppression of the emoluments for the workers there. Note the PNC did not interfere too much, save probably for the Walter Rodney affair, with the employment practices of the institution, but they suppressed salaries, so many Africans with Anti-PNC views and opinions, were allowed to work there. The Indians simply sought more lucrative opportunities. This antagonism continued even after a change of Government 92. In fact one can safely say it increased as they were not only a group of loud mouths, but a group with a high concentration of Africans. who had to be thought a Lesson by the PPP/C Administration. The lesson that WE RUN THINGS was clear throughout the 23 years of PPP/C in power. The following 5 years between the PPP/C taking back the reigns of power saw no real changes in the benefits flowing to the staff of the University and we are here today.
As for the Indian student he and his family is fully aware of the situation of Government antagonistic approach towards making UG a world class institution of learning so he simply seeks his learning opportunities else where.
In its run up to the last elections one is left to wonder why the PPP/C Manifesto plan for tertiary education focused on a plan to train our students online and at foreign Universities , even in areas for which UG is equipped. In fact if things were allowed to go according to that Manifesto, UG would have been closing.