Psychology is important to holistic development — AG tells AUOPS graduands

Development is more than just an economic issue; it is a psychological issue, since it concerns how quickly societies change, which is influenced by how quickly the attitudes, thoughts, and behaviours of their citizens change.
This is the message the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, SC, delivered to the 2023 graduating class of the American University of Peace Studies (AUOPS) on Saturday evening.

The AUOPS graduation ceremony was held under the theme “Psychology: the hallmark for holistic development”.
Declaring that we have arrived at a point where we understand the significance of psychology to the advancement of our society, Nandlall noted that local universities are now offering courses in this subject. He thus applauded AUOPS for giving priority and importance to psychology by dedicating a suite of programmes to the discipline.
“The depth of…development anywhere in any country is for the advancement of the human being. There ought to be no other purpose of development of any type in the world if it is not directed at the advancement of humankind. And if that ought to be our focus, then obviously, the science that studies the human mind, studies the behavioural pattern of the human-animal, must be a science of utmost importance. And that is what psychology is,” he explained.

In every level of national endeavour, and at every stage of life, he said, courses such as psychology are being integrated.
“So, it is not by coincidence that we have 30-odd Police officers graduating. And they would not have been the first batch, and they are not the only set of Police officers receiving such training. At Nations University, many of our Police officers are enrolled, studying similar disciplines. On the GOAL [Guyana Online Academy of Learning] scholarship programme in particular, I engaged with the coordinators of that programme, and I have added dozens of programmes, such as psychology, forensic science in all its forms, and forensic investigation in all its forms,” the AG disclosed.
Further, the AG announced that dozens of Police officers are enrolled in the GOAL scholarship, and he is thus urging the Police Commissioner to encourage them to sign up for these programmes.
Nandlall disclosed that 20 Police officers and five social workers, including the director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, will visit India, as part of a scholarship programme he started with the Indian High Commission here, to learn forensic interviews and a wide range of other forensic-type disciplines that would aid them in the discharge of their functions.
And according to him, Prison officers are receiving psychological training to help with inmate rehabilitation.
The Attorney General explained that restorative justice, which was just incorporated into the legal system, is closely aligned with psychology. While restorative justice encompasses many different aspects, Nandlall said, investigating an issue to determine its underlying cause is one of its primary goals.
“Restorative justice also allows the defendant and the complainant an opportunity to resolve their differences, pay compensation, or repair the damage. It allows an opportunity to kill the bad blood which may be the root cause. It allows the parties to sit together in a mediatory environment,” he explained.
In this context, he noted, restorative justice is being taught to teachers, religious leaders, Amerindian leaders, Police officers, magistrates, judges, prosecutors, and many other leaders.
In congratulating the graduating class, he told them, “You have a very fundamental role to play in the holistic development of your fellow Guyanese. As I said, a child is the product of that child’s environment. You now have the skill and the training to help us mould that child that will represent the child of Guyana. And you have been trained to nurture that growth, to ensure that we produce that model citizen. Because that is our absolute and ultimate objective and intention, Psychology, by its very nature, must play an important role in shaping that future.”
He encouraged them to further their studies as far as they could, and assured that Government would provide them with innumerable opportunities to achieve their goals.
“There is never a ceiling limit for knowledge. I urge you to go on to further your studies as far as you can go. Even if you do not pursue certified courses, you must continue to read to advance your own personal development in this area and (in) many other disciplines. I want to assure you that psychology is a fundamental part of holistic development. I want to assure you that the state of Guyana, driven by policies emanating from the Government, will ensure that concepts and disciplines such as psychology will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping our country’s future,” he said.
“There is no greater asset that we have than our people, in particular our young people,” he declared.
The American University of Peace Studies is a private institution that began operating in Guyana in 2002. It offers diploma, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programmes in various fields of psychology. It also offers short courses in several other disciplines. (Feona Morrison)