**AUTONOMY FOR UG BERBICE CAMPUS ** Berbice campus wants autonomy – calls being made for director to withdraw resignation - August 2, 2013 By admin - BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL - GUYANA TIMES Stakeholders are calling on University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) Director Professor Daizal Samad to withdraw his resignation even as they press the authorities to delink the Corentyne-based institution from its parent body at Turkeyen. Samad recently tendered his resignation, citing discrimination and his inability to function under the current terms and conditions which prevail. Samad claimed that as director of the UGBC, he cannot make decisions. Samad, speaking on Wednesday about his decision to resign, said his dignity has been trampled on. “The situation is unpleasant. We are suffering under the weight of Turkeyen and my position is that weight must be removed in order that we move faster and in order that we move higher." Several students, concerned citizens, educators and parents added their voices on the issue Friday, calling for the intervention of government to make the Berbice campus autonomous and free from the ineptitude at the problem-plagued Turkeyen Campus. Security Management Consultant John London called for government to intervene, saying that those at Turkeyen seem to be playing an ego game. “It looks like those who are in authority over him are more concerned with impressing their authority over him rather than the programmes at the campus and the progress UGBC has made under him.” He referred to it as pettiness and micro-management and noted that farmers are among many who have benefited as a result of policies that Professor Samad implemented. Meanwhile, Pastor Shawn Geer echoed similar sentiments, saying if the professor is allowed to resign; it will be a loss to Berbice and the entire country. The Berbice-born professor is said to have left his family in the United States to serve his country. Boxer Darian Simon also called on Professor Samad to rescind his resignation. According to the boxer, he was a fighter with no education until he met Professor Samad who introduced him to the computer. Consequences “If this campus crumbles under the weight of Turkeyen, every single school in Berbice will suffer. Every kindergarten will suffer; every nursery school will suffer; every secondary school will suffer. All sections of society will suffer. The farmers, who come here for help and get it will suffer.” He added that persons in the fishing industry will also suffer because they will not be able to get needed help and the religious sector will suffer the same faith. According to the campus director, upon his return to the campus after a brief absence, he was subjected to abuse by way of letters and obscene phone calls. “I am not prepared to accept that at all. If this country wants my life I will give it, but this country cannot ask for my dignity… Every single citizen of this country must have his or her dignity intact.” New approaches According to director, new approaches must be adapted if the university is to stand in its own feet. “We will run this campus like a business.” This, he added will not be done at the expense of anyone. He said if the Berbice Campus is given autonomy, and he is asked to head it, he will not increase tuition fees as promised. “The government will give us the same subvention and after eight years, we shall tell the government that we no longer need your subvention and that money can be taken and given to schools to prepare better children to come to this university. Locally, we shall develop programmes and become an income generating, self-generating, self-propelling and self-sufficient institution in order that everyone coming to the institution for help will receive it.” Meanwhile, Samad noted that several new programmes will have to be instituted. Among them are petroleum engineering and a full degree in senior police management.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 01:25:03 +0000