G/Town Mayor among 2025 UG graduates earning Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations

– completes 20-year academic journey along various paths

Georgetown’s Mayor, Alfred Mentore, will walk across the University of Guyana’s graduation stage on Saturday to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in international relations – bringing to completion an academic journey that began more than two decades ago.
For the Chief Citizen, the achievement represents far more than a certificate. It marks the fulfilment of a personal promise made years before he ever entered public life.
“This degree made my job a lot easier,” Mentore shared in an interview with UG’s Department of Events, Conferences and Communication (DECC). “I was able to understand from an academic standpoint what I was doing in real life. It gave me a deeper perspective on how to address and apply my learnings to everyday matters and to make more informed decisions as council head.”
Mentore’s academic path was anything but linear. In the late 1990s he began pursuing a degree in Economics, later switching to Banking and Finance in the early 2000s. But life – and responsibility – intervened.
“I had to shelve my aspirations,” he recalled. “I needed to secure a solid livelihood, develop a business portfolio, and build partnerships that created net worth. My work as a real estate investor and entrepreneur took precedence.”
Along the way, Mentore discovered another calling: public service. His long-standing interest in politics eventually drew him into the Georgetown City Council, where he rose from councillor to Deputy Mayor and ultimately Mayor.
Yet the desire to complete his studies never faded.

Full circle
“Coming full circle… that has always been foremost in my mind. I felt it was necessary to complete this first step in my journey. And I’m not stopping here – my master’s is next. Learning is a lifelong journey,” he said.
Mentore returned to university amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period during which he was simultaneously serving as Deputy Mayor, helping manage essential service operations, and raising a young family with two teenagers.
“It was around 2020–2021. I had to care for citizens, discharge my responsibilities as Deputy Mayor, and continue working as part of an essential service entity,” he explained. “My family gave me the support I needed. A lot of resourceful people played their part in helping me pursue this degree.”
The demands were immense.
“It was hard and tiring,” he admitted. “I had to switch on and off between work and study and still put on a brave face every day.”
But he stayed motivated – partly by the desire to graduate before his daughter, who is expected to finish school next year.
“I wanted bragging rights,” he laughed. “And I wanted her to get her own moment.”
Mentore credited UG’s teaching staff for enriching his learning experience.
“The lecturers at UG were well informed and interactive. The experiences strengthened my leadership capacity and widened my knowledge base. My learnings will truly shape how I see things locally, regionally, and internationally,” he said.
He emphasised that the degree directly supports his mayoral responsibilities: “My role will always be to find workable solutions for the greater good of the city and the nation.”

Words of encouragement
As he prepares to officially graduate, Mayor Mentore offered words of encouragement to public servants, working parents, entrepreneurs, and young people who doubt their ability to balance education with life’s responsibilities.
“Never give up on your dreams. Keep your sight on the prize!” he urged. “If I could come full circle and dedicate the time – while running the city – to complete this journey… why not you?”
He also underscored the importance of certification.
“Many people are qualified for the job they are doing but not certified. And sometimes someone comes along with a certificate and gets your job – not because they’re more capable, but because they’re certified. Certification and qualification are two distinct things. Regardless of your constraints, find a way to get certified. There are so many avenues now, online or otherwise. And Government is doing much more to make that journey possible.”
The public is invited to join the University of Guyana in celebrating this year’s graduation ceremonies, which will be streamed live on UG’s Facebook page and the UG Broadcasting Service. The events are also receiving coverage from local and international media.
UG, now in its 62nd year, has produced more than 70,000 graduates, many of whom have gone on to serve with distinction at the highest levels of national and international leadership.