UG Tain Campus toasts to 25 years

Nov 10, 2025 News

---

(Kaieteur News) – It was in November, 2000 that the University of Guyana (UG) opened the doors of its Berbice Campus (UGBC), at Tain, Corentyne for Berbicians seeking to advance their education at the highest level.

Some 25 years on, the institution has been hailed as an integral component to the socio-economic evolution of the country, depositing thousands of upskilled graduates to Guyana’s vast intellectual treasury each year.

On the evening of November 6, 2025, the Tain campus hosted a significant event in honor of the occasion.

Students, past and present, along with lecturers, transformed the campus’ auditorium into a setting befitting royalty, where they hosted a dinner which was preceded by a brief formal ceremony reflecting on the institution’s strides over the years.

Vice Chancellor, Dr. Paloma Mohamed- Martin reminded the gathering of the purpose behind the establishment of the Berbice campus, one which she said was crafted with no element of discrimination.

“This campus, like many others in the country, started with a very important idea, and the important idea was that every person in this country, regardless of where they came from, their status in life, regardless of who their parents were, once they showed that they had the capacity for university education, that they should have it.”

She affirmed that the institution was built on the premise of equality, inclusion, diversity and the desire for everyone to have unhindered opportunities to access education.

A concern for the campus was rate of enrollment. Dr. Mohamed-Martin explained that the 1000 milestone for students was only reached after 25 years. There has been a reverse in fortunes for the campus, however, as the vice-chancellor disclosed that “this year, for the first time, we are seeing over a thousand students in the campus.”

This positive she attributed to the tuition fees being removed, allowing individuals to enroll free of cost.

“If Berbice is to rise to its full potentials, then Berbice has to be able to ensure that it has the people who can rise and lift it up,” Mohamed-Martin suggested.

Exclusive to the Berbice Campus is the first Institute for Marine and Riverine Ecologies and Economies (IMAREE) programme.

Giving figures, the senior UG official stated that to date, the UGBC has about 6,000 to 8,000 alumni. Overall, the UG retains almost 15,000 students.

Head of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), Dr. Jacob Opadeyi emphasised that the history of the campus must be celebrated. He upheld the importance of such an institution, noting that there are some countries where learning is greatly impeded for lack of the necessary facilities.

“The 25 years celebration is a celebration of excellence, because I know if the government had not assisted in the support for this campus, it would have just died. But what I know is that the future is bright for our children in Guyana.”

Opadeyi praised the recent decision by the government to discontinue student tuition fees for the country’s premiere tertiary institution. He also highlighted the free online scholarship initiative which offers tertiary level programmes, and urged all to maximise the use of the opportunities.

“So that privilege, that honor to be a region that has a university, don’t let us take it lightly.”

Advisor in the Office of the President, Dr. Randy Persaud, expressed confidence that the institution “will go a far way.”

“Twenty-five years ago, the Berbice Campus was established here at Tain, it represented another declaration of faith, that higher learning must not stop at Mahaica bridge, that education must reach the far-flung corners of this great land,” Dr. Persaud maintained.

As part of its exhibition, the university paid homage to some of its pioneers. These include former president Bharat Jagdeo, who “provided national leadership and state resources, formally opening of UGBC in 2000.”

Also recognised on the ‘wall of pioneers’ was former Minister of Education Dale Bisnauth, for providing the political support.

Others key figures include: Dr. James G. Rose: Dean of Arts; who postponed his sabbatical to spearhead UGBC’s planning and structure.

Mr. Ramdatt Nandkishore, who was appointed the first administrative officer, UGBC.

President Janet Jagan: who reignited the initiative in 1998, stressing affordability, staffing, and regional accessibility.

President Cheddi Jagan, who first articulated the vision of a Berbice campus, framing it within his belief in education as a fundamental right.

Professor Paloma Mohamed, for “visionary leadership has revitalised the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, positioning it for future growth and innovation.”

Prof. Harold Lutchman: Vice-Chancellor who secured academic board support and university-wide approvals.

Dr. Parsram Thakur: Appointed the first director, recruited from New York.

Regional Chairman of Region Six, Junior Bassant, and former Guyana Teachers Union President, Mark Lyte are both alumni of the Berbice Campus.

from vice-chancellor of UG, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin; appearing on behalf of Education Minister Sonia Parag; and Dr. Randy Persuad, who represented Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo.

---

• Berbice Campus, UG Tain Campus, University of Guyana

---