…process could take months
The University of Guyana will be appointing a new official to fill the position of Vice Chancellor but it is a process that can take anywhere between six to nine months.
Speaking with Guyana Times International on Monday, Pro-Chancellor of the University, Retired Major-General Joseph Singh explained that this comes after Professor Ivelaw Griffith declined to renew his contract to serve another tenure in that capacity. He noted that the process to select a new VC will take some time.
Consequently, the UG administration is currently under command of a Transitional Management Committee, Chaired by Professor Michael Scott to oversee operations. Professor Paloma Mohamed has undertaken the role as Deputy Chair.
“The University indicated that the process of selecting a new Chancellor is in train and that process could take anything between six to nine months. There is a Transitional Management Committee that is in place which is Chaired by Professor Michael Scott. Ms Mohamed is the Deputy Chair,” Singh informed.
Griffith had come under grave criticism earlier in the year after the UG Unions stated that his performance was dismal among other accusations of financial mismanagement. In February, a group of employees attached to the Turkeyen Campus picketed the Vice-Chancellery, calling for audits into the spending of the University as it was allegedly unable to properly account for its expenditures and more so, offer a salary increase to its staffers. This was despite the fact that tuition fees increased annually and there were additional fees for some services.
President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr Jewel Thomas was quoted as saying that the University is undergoing financial constraints which will potentially affect the University’s teaching and learning.
Thomas claimed that VC Griffith, upon taking up the post, demanded a new vehicle, an increase of allowance which is equivalent to a ministerial level, a credit card, an expense of the University and bonuses. The Union President noted that the University of Guyana cannot afford the Vice Chancellor. The UGSSA President observed that the situation cannot and should not be allowed to continue.
In another encounter, the Union President told media operatives that the University has rejected their proposal for an increase in salaries, saying that the institution has a deficit.
Thomas accused the University of wasteful spending, explaining that they have been hosting talks and events to accommodate various speakers, some of whom the University does not even know of, and funds go towards their accommodation, food and travel.
“University has a public profile, we’ve been hosting talks, events, lectures, visiting people, some of whom the University doesn’t even know of their presence, we just know that they came and they went and they cost us money but we don’t know exactly what they did,” she noted.
At a meeting convened by the University Council, headed by the Pro-Chancellor on April 15, a decision was taken to have the Vice Chancellor proceed on the routine end of contract leave.
This decision was made in view of the University’s financial situation, the absence of any circumstance that required the Vice Chancellor’s presence and it also respected long-standing procedures of the University with regard to no payment in lieu of leave for all staff. However, the Pro-Chancellor had reportedly given directives for the Council to reverse its decision so that the Vice Chancellor could be paid in lieu of leave.
