Political manoeuvres to end Opadeyi’s tenure at UG

Jul 08, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
Are there pre-emptive political manoeuvres to end Professor Jacob Opadeyi’s tenure as Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana (UG)? Professor Opadeyi was carefully selected by UG Council after an elaborate recruitment and selection process almost three years ago.
Since his assumption of duty in February 2012, Professor Opadeyi has dedicated and committed himself fully to the cause of the University, to lift its professional and academic standards, and to promote general improvement of the University environment. It is therefore disturbing and unfortunate to see statements in the media emanating in a so called ‘no confidence’ note against the Vice Chancellor from the leadership of University of Guyana Senior Staff Association on 24 June 2015.
Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, Minister of Education, a distinguished Scholar and Academic at UG for many years, a member of the outgoing UG Council who was fully involved in the recruitment and selection committee which unanimously recommended to UG Council, and which Council unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Opadeyi, was quoted as saying in Guyana Times of 28 June 2015,”He hopes that the Vice-Chancellor would do the ‘right thing’ and remove himself from the position in which he was clearly not wanted” Professor Opadeyi, no doubt must be thinking “et tu Rupert?”
Today’s Demerara Waves states “Education Minister Rupert Roopnarine told Demerara Waves Monday July 6 that Griffith has applied for the post and after proper screening and the functioning of the University’s Council a decision will be made, Griffith is among several prominent persons who have applied for the job, but sources said things are looking bright in his direction”.
Indeed, this is a matter for the University Council. But there is no vacancy for Vice Chancellor. The outgoing Council (whose tenure ended on 30 June 2015) authorized NO such advertisement for the position of Vice Chancellor in the local and foreign media as is the established policy for the position of Vice Chancellor and other senior positions at UG. When such a vacancy is advertised and applications are received, it is followed by agreed criteria for short listing by a representative panel of the Council, an agreed recruitment process, and agreed criteria and weighting for the interview and selection.
Professor Opadeyi is the current Vice Chancellor whose first contract goes to the end of February 2016 with the option for a renewal for another term of three years on satisfactory evaluation. His valiant efforts at improving the University merits continuity with another term.
Samuel J. Goolsarran

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Political manoeuvres to end Opadeyi’s tenure at UG

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