UG to commemorate 100th birth anniversary of Dr Jagan

The University of Guyana (UG) has begun planning to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of the late President Dr Cheddi B. Jagan in March this year.

A press release from UG yesterday said that the commemoration envisages a series of academic activities to honour the co-founder of Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, which was set up in 1963.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith recently convened the inaugural meeting of the twelvemember, broad-based planning committee entrusted with recommending a comprehensive set of commemoration events. Under the Chairmanship of Dr Nigel Gravesande, University Registrar, the committee includes Professor Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement; Professor Subramanian Gomalthinayagam, Director of the Berbice Campus; and Tota Mangar, former Deputy ViceChancellor.

Also part of the planning committee are: Indra Chandarpal of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre; Gwyneth George, University Librarian; Emily King, Director of the National Library; Paulette Paul, UG’s Public Relations Officer; Dr Cheddi (Joey) Jagan, Jr; Dr Nigel Westmaas, Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Hamilton College in New York; Kadasi Ceres of UG’s Faculty of Social Sciences; and Assistant Registrar June Ann Garnett, who is Secretary to the Planning Committee.

According to Vice-Chancellor Griffith, “this commemoration is intended to be consonant with (what) universities do: facilitate discourse on significant personalities, policies, programmes, and events, analysing relevant aspects, some of which might be contentious.”

At the inaugural planning committee meeting the ViceChancellor emphasised that the commemoration will not be a partisan pursuit.

The Committee is expected to organise a series of exhibitions on the life and works of the late President, convene symposia at both campuses, and install a commemorative plaque at the Cheddi Jagan Lecture Theatre on the Turkeyen campus.