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Why the double-standards at UG?

Dec 08, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
The article, “UGWU mulls legal action over dismissal of lecturer” (Kaieteur News November 29, 2009) is another example of the illogical way of thinking which guides decision making at the administrative level of the University of Guyana (UG).
The university has few lecturers with PhD’s; the Faculty of Social Sciences, the largest Faculty, has three. Administrations over the years have complained the University cannot attract qualified lecturers and currently some courses are not being taught because of the lack of lecturers. Lecturers with first degree comprise about 33 percent of the faculty. Yet this new Administration did not renew the contract of this lecturer.
This lecturer has a PhD and a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution from two American Universities and an LLB from a British University. He was Head of the Department of Government for three years; the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee for two years; an advisor to the UG student team which won the model Organisation of American States competition, and a member of the UG/Clark Atlanta University Conflict Resolution Project.
This new administration apparently thinks he is not suitably qualified to teach at UG. The previous administration awarded him two one year contracts.
The administration is adamant that it is not “obligated” to hire this lecturer because he is a retiree; however the rules of the University states retirees can work from 60 until 65 on a year by year contact. The University has rehired Dr. Cyril Solomon, Dr. Henry Jeffrey, Mr. Berkley Stewart, and a Mr. Thomas this academic year who are all retirees and older than this lecturer
They were recommended for renewal of contract by Dr. Michael Scott, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Administration’s interpretation of “obligated” therefore must mean it can hire retirees. Was this lecturer not hired because there was no work for him?
This academic year the Head of his Department recommended his contract be renewed and his Department assigned him two courses to teach during each of the two semesters. When his contract was not renewed his courses were given to an Assistant Lecturer with a First Degree who is one of his former students.
She was initially hired to assist with tutorials and a first year course. So what is the real reason for this lecturer’s contract not being renewed? He has a PhD, he taught at UG for 11 years, and his department recommended his contract be renewed.
Some people claim it is discrimination. The burden is on the administration to show otherwise.
The UG Council has an opportunity to re-examine the issues in this case since the matter is before it. The UG administration is sending out a clear message to potential applicants, overseas and locally, who want to make a contribution to the University and the development of Guyana that when they apply to UG they do so at own risk. If you leave a job and come to UG you should be prepared to be terminated.
Successful applicants then should have large sums of assets to cover their expenses for about seven months to provide for their families, including children, in the event their contracts are not renewed and while the university meditates on their appeals.
The university feels this message will draw large numbers of applicants to the university.
My humble suggestion to this lecturer is – you had your idealistic fling thinking you can contribute to the development of your homeland, but the hard knocks of Guyana should sober you up. Quickly pack your bags, gather your family and run like hell from Guyana – like the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese who never and will never look back.
Stanley Wong
Former Student

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