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Time for Transparency on Ministers’ “Doctorates” and Taxpayer-Funded Scholarships
Dear Editor,
The recent revelation that Ian Andre Roberts fabricated his academic credentials to secure a lucrative job in the United States should force Guyanese to take a long, hard look at home, particularly at those who proudly carry the title “Doctor.”
In 2016, SN reported that two sitting government ministers, Nicolette Henry and Annette Ferguson, were among several individuals benefiting from state-funded scholarships. According to the report, Henry, then Minister within the Ministry of Education, was awarded $3.3 million in taxpayer funds for her first year of a doctoral programme in public health at a U.S. university. Ferguson, then Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, received $3.38 million for her second year of studies in Public Policy Management at the U.K.
The revelation was troubling then — and it’s more troubling now. Minister Parag had highlighted that other political figures and their relatives, including Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Alicia Roopnaraine (daughter of former Minister Rupert Roopnaraine), also benefited from similar scholarships (KN, April 23,2021). Even more disturbing, there appeared to be no clear record that some of these recipients ever completed their studies.
This raises serious questions that cannot remain unanswered.
- Did Nicolette Henry ever complete her doctorate in public health?
- If so, at which institution, and can her dissertation and credentials be independently verified?
- Did Annette Ferguson, Alicia Roopnaraine, and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley complete their respective programmes, and if they did, do they have any binding obligation to serve the Guyanese people whose taxes funded their education?
After the Ian Roberts fiasco, the time for silence is over. Guyana cannot afford another generation of unverified “doctors” and politically connected beneficiaries. The government owes the public a transparent accounting of every dollar spent and proof that every degree supposedly earned with public funds is, in fact, legitimate. Accountability is not optional. It’s a duty — and Guyanese deserve no less.
Regards,
Dr. Devanand Bhagwan
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