Dear Editor,
In the letter on July 15, 2025, I read from Mr or Ms A Dey, in which he/she lauded the 1976 announcement of “free tertiary education”. Whoever A Dey is, he/she should be advised that sometimes it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. Because the PNC’s history on education is nothing to be proud of.
In the first place, a section of the PNC was opposed to the creation of the University of Guyana. The then leader of that party, Mr Forbes Burnham, had even promised to close the university down if or when he became leader of the country. He even derogatorily called it “Jagan Night School” because Dr Jagan began the university classes at Queen’s College after three in the afternoon. He was not willing to wait until the campus was established at Turkeyen. (Read Dr Harold Drayton “Genesis & Early Years” 1963-73).
I say a section of the PNC, because there were some who openly disagreed with Burnham on that score. Mr John Carter (later Sir John) was one such person. He even accepted to serve on the UG Board of Governors in that period.
The university was so popular that Mr Burnham was unable to carry out his threat when he took power in 1964.
It is true that in 1976 Mr Burnham announced free education in Guyana. However, what his supporters never wish to recall was the fact that by 1980 the university was flat on its back. Indeed, education as a whole was in its worst period. The PNC regime even reduced the qualification for entrance into UG, and that institution was grinding downwards.
At one point it had to be closed for some months to repair some basic facilities such as toilets, etc.
Education and other essential services were sacrificed so that the PNC elite would live well. For instance, more money was spent on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs than on the Ministries of Education, Health, Housing and Agriculture combined during that same period.
So, Mr or Ms Dey, the PNC’s record on education is as bad as it had been with the economy and human rights! Nothing to be proud of!
Sincerely,
Donald Ramotar
Former President
