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UG Vice Chancellor silences opposing Unions with injunction
– files $10 million lawsuit against UGSSA President
Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, has resorted to legal action to silence
UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Opadeyi
the Unions of the University of Guyana (UG). In essence the Vice Chancellor has not only been able to secure an injunction that will afford him just this but he is also suing President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr. Mellissa Ifill, for libel.
The basis of the court action is that Dr. Ifill earlier this week disseminated an email to dozens of persons, including junior and senior staff at the University of Guyana, students and others, which contained a document titled, “Petition of No Confidence in University of Guyana’s Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi.”
It is claimed that in the said document Dr. Ifill (the defendant), “falsely and maliciously published the following defamatory words of and concerning the plaintiff (Professor Opadeyi) including: …failure to honour contracts with employees including illegally withholding legitimate payments due to staff; circumvention and breach of University financial systems, practices and procedures; financial mismanagement and impropriety including but not limited to system override at the bursary and repeated failure to meet legal obligations to transfer deductions from worker’s salaries to various bodies…”
Professor Opadeyi, who is convinced that “the said words and publications were calculated and intended to disparage his character, standing and reputation,” is claiming damages in excess of $10 million for the libellous publication of the No Confidence petition.
The lawsuit was filed by a battery of lawyers representing Professor Opadeyi. They included former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj, Ganesh Hira and Manoj Narayan.
UGSSA President,
Dr. Mellissa Ifill
They were able to secure an injunction from Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang restraining Dr. Ifill or her colleagues from further publishing, or causing to be published, the contentious phrases as outlined.
The associated court documents outline that the UG Vice Chancellor’s role and functional responsibilities as Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana are clearly and expressly set out in the statutes made under the University of Guyana Act, Chapter 39:02, and are confined to the exercise of general supervision over the educational arrangements of the University; the supervision of admission of students; ex officio Chairman of the Academic Board; general administration of University and a responsibility to report to the Council of the University of Guyana.
“The Plaintiff (Opadeyi) has no responsibility in relation to financial matters and no dealing in finance and payments to staff; these areas fall strictly within the domain of the Bursar of the University of Guyana.”
With regard to the matter Dr. Ifill has 10 days in which to respond and the matter is slated to be heard by Chang on Tuesday July 7, 2015.
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