Will there be ethnic equity at UG Diaspora engagement?

Dear Editor,

Reports from the University of Guyana Vice Chancellery say the Vice Chancellor will host an inaugural Diaspora Engagement Conference from July 23-28. This is welcomed as the Diaspora may have a lot to contribute to the University and the nation, although so far the University has not been running a positive balance in its Diaspora reaches. Will those coming to the conference pay their own way or is the University covering their costs. And if it is the latter, will there be a fair and equitable representation of the varied ethnic groups – which was not evident at the UG conference held last year May in Queens, New York.

It is pointed out that so far, the VC has been expending huge amounts of money with no income coming in to cover costs for his varied plan and programmes for the university. As anyone who studies economics will suggest, that is bad business – the University should at least find a way to recover costs and to minimise expenses. At the UG sponsored conference last year in New York City (York College), scarce funds were expended for travel and hosting of the conference. What were the benefits? Supporters of the ruling coalition participated in the conference. Indo-Guyanese and Amerindians were conspicuous by their absence. Indo-Guyanese and Amerindian scholars were underrepresented (a mere five per cent) at the conference in a country agreed they account for 54 per cent of the population and 60 per cent of the NYC-based Guyanese Diaspora.

It should be noted that an Indo-Guyanese Diaspora conference was held in Guyana in March. In addition, there was a global convention on indentureship in Trinidad and a similar one in New Delhi last month on the occasion of the 100th anniversary since the end of indenture. The VC did not see a need to organise an indenture conference at UG to commemorate the historic occasion or provide support for the several seminars held in Guyana or to find funds to send scholars at the global conference in Trinidad or the one held in India last month. Yet the VC hosted and funded seminars on slavery and its emancipation last year and the 50th anniversary emendation in NYC. Is the 100th anniversary of end of indenture not worthy of commemoration? Aren’t historic events of other groups not worthy of celebration or commemoration? Where is the equity in funding for the varied ethnic groups in Guyana to attend or participate in UG organised events?

The reports say President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo are invited to this Diaspora engagement. The VC, Ivelaw Griffith, is a close associate of President David Granger. They were both members of the People’s National Congress youth wing, the Youth Socialist Movement, of which Griffith was at one time the head. Will the current and former President endorse ethnic bias?

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor,

Reports from the University of Guyana Vice Chancellery say the Vice Chancellor will host an inaugural Diaspora Engagement Conference from July 23-28. This is welcomed as the Diaspora may have a lot to contribute to the University and the nation, although so far the University has not been running a positive balance in its Diaspora reaches. Will those coming to the conference pay their own way or is the University covering their costs. And if it is the latter, will there be a fair and equitable representation of the varied ethnic groups – which was not evident at the UG conference held last year May in Queens, New York.

It is pointed out that so far, the VC has been expending huge amounts of money with no income coming in to cover costs for his varied plan and programmes for the university. As anyone who studies economics will suggest, that is bad business – the University should at least find a way to recover costs and to minimise expenses. At the UG sponsored conference last year in New York City (York College), scarce funds were expended for travel and hosting of the conference. What were the benefits? Supporters of the ruling coalition participated in the conference. Indo-Guyanese and Amerindians were conspicuous by their absence. Indo-Guyanese and Amerindian scholars were underrepresented (a mere five per cent) at the conference in a country agreed they account for 54 per cent of the population and 60 per cent of the NYC-based Guyanese Diaspora.

It should be noted that an Indo-Guyanese Diaspora conference was held in Guyana in March. In addition, there was a global convention on indentureship in Trinidad and a similar one in New Delhi last month on the occasion of the 100th anniversary since the end of indenture. The VC did not see a need to organise an indenture conference at UG to commemorate the historic occasion or provide support for the several seminars held in Guyana or to find funds to send scholars at the global conference in Trinidad or the one held in India last month. Yet the VC hosted and funded seminars on slavery and its emancipation last year and the 50th anniversary emendation in NYC. Is the 100th anniversary of end of indenture not worthy of commemoration? Aren’t historic events of other groups not worthy of celebration or commemoration? Where is the equity in funding for the varied ethnic groups in Guyana to attend or participate in UG organised events?

The reports say President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo are invited to this Diaspora engagement. The VC, Ivelaw Griffith, is a close associate of President David Granger. They were both members of the People’s National Congress youth wing, the Youth Socialist Movement, of which Griffith was at one time the head. Will the current and former President endorse ethnic bias?

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram