<p><strong>“You Are the Bedrock of This Institution” - UG’s Vice-Chancellor Tells&nbsp; Long Service Employees&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Guyana’s apex national University, the University of Guyana, on Friday, November 19,&nbsp; recognised and honoured fifty-nine (59) employees for their dedicated and selfless&nbsp; service to the institution, and by extension the country, for as many as forty (40) years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the disruptions in 2020 saw a postponement of the 202o Long Service&nbsp; Ceremony, this year the institution was determined to honor both the 2020 and 2021&nbsp; longest-serving staff members from all its campuses. The COVID contexed event was&nbsp; held for a limited number of awardees only at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre,&nbsp; Turkeyen Campus, while their families, friends, colleagues, and other UG staff viewed&nbsp; it online. Awards were given for 40, 35, 30, 25, and 20 years respectively with&nbsp; monetary gifts, certificates, and plaques in recognition of their dedication and&nbsp; commitment to the development of the institution, under the theme, ‘Perseverance’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Vice-Chancellor, XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin in her remarks, congratulated and&nbsp; expressed deep appreciation to the awardees for their tenacity, dedication, and selfless&nbsp; service offered to the University over the years. She also acknowledged the support&nbsp; and understanding of the families of the awardees.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We love you, we appreciate you, and there is no way you have stayed for 40, 35, 30,&nbsp; 25, or 20 years because of the money or any fancy office, but because you are special.&nbsp; And every time we see a UG graduate, we know you had a part to play in that, you are&nbsp; the bedrock of this institution,” the VC told the awardees.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The VC acknowledged that her administration is serious and working diligently in&nbsp; achieving student and staff success, which she noted is an integral part of the&nbsp; University’s Blueprint 2040 Goals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his feature address, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UG, Prof. Emanuel Cummings, who&nbsp; was also awarded for serving the institution for 30 years, acknowledged the significant&nbsp; contributions made by each awardee and noted that this is the first time the University&nbsp; is awarding 59 of its employees at once.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We have stayed for 40, 35, 30, 25, and 20 years so as to continue producing skills for&nbsp; the development of Guyana. While others sought more favorable opportunities, we&nbsp; have continued to persevere over the years,” Prof. Cummings acknowledged.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chairperson of the ceremony, University of Guyana’s Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande&nbsp; also echoed similar sentiments. He expressed that the University is very fortunate to&nbsp; have such dedicated employees who work very hard to ensure that students who enter&nbsp; the halls of the institution are supported in every way possible to be successful in their&nbsp; academic endeavors.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Citations detailing the progression of the employees over the years were read by Dean&nbsp; of the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Dr. Roslin Khan; Public Relations Officer,&nbsp; Ms. Krest Cummings; UG’s Former Public Relations Officer, Ms. Paulette Paul; and&nbsp; Senior Lecturer, Mr. Al Creighton.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The evening saw musical renditions by Ras Kamo Williams, Ezzie Crandon, Mr. Kwesi&nbsp; Cox, and Ms. Omiah Hall.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Delivering responses on behalf of the awardees were Mr. Calvin Bernard (2020) and&nbsp; Ms. Arlene McLean (2021) who reflected on both the challenges and successes they&nbsp; experienced in serving the University over the years. They both acknowledged that&nbsp; serving the University over the years is a fulfilling and rewarding experience which&nbsp; they would always cherish and that they are happy to be still on staff to be part of the&nbsp; positive significant changes being made in this particular period of UG’s history&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Given that the event was being held on International Men’s Day, each man present&nbsp; received a special gift and celebratory chorus sung by all those present.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following are the lists of awardees:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><u><strong>2020&nbsp;</strong></u></p>

<p><strong>20 Years:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Calvin Bernard – Natural Science, Brian Coppin – Natural Sciences, Dr. Dawn Fox – Natural Sciences, Pamela Ramnarine – Natural Sciences, Lenandlar Singh – Natural&nbsp; Sciences, Taramattie Singh – Natural Sciences, Winslow Patterson – Registry, Fiona&nbsp; Sancho – Registry, Bibi Harper-Fenty - University Library, Clyden Harris – University Library, Yashwant Ramroop – University Library, Thomas Singh – Social Sciences,&nbsp; Dwayne Alexander – Education and Humanities, Hazel Simpson – Education and&nbsp; Humanities, and Dr. Mellissa Ifill.</p>

<p><strong>25 Years:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Bruce Haynes – Engineering and Technology, George Torrington – Office of the Vice Chancellor, Nichelle Bynoe – Bursary, Althea Dover – Bursary, Simmone Bernard – University Library, Denise Simmons – Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences,&nbsp; Francesca Milo – Registry and Johann Crawford – College of Medical Sciences.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>30 Years:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Karen Marcus – Bursary, Shawn Mc Farlane – Facilities Maintenance, Patricia&nbsp; Glasgow – University Library, Carol Parris – University Library, Donette Washington&nbsp; – University Library, and Prof. Emanuel Cummings – Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Engagement).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>35 Years:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Carmen Yusuf – Education and Humanites&nbsp;</p>

<p><u><strong>2021&nbsp;</strong></u></p>

<p><strong>20 Years:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Melisande Fraser – School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Guyana&nbsp; Berbice Campus, Surudai Mangra – University Library, Terence Moriah – Facilities&nbsp; Maintenance, Prof. Raymond Jagessar – Natural Sciences, Malcolm Williams – Tactical Online Services, Yvette Swain – Bursary, Maxcine King – Tactical Online&nbsp; Services, Gilbert Caleb – Facilities Maintenance, Rudra Chinapen – Registry, Carlyle&nbsp; Benjamin – Engineering and Technology, Patricia Wong-Bandhan – College of&nbsp; Medical Sciences, Dr. Elroy Charles – Agriculture and Forestry and Elena Trim –&nbsp;</p>

<p>Engineering and Technology.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>25 Years:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Robert Bentinck – Registry, Jacqueline Robin – Registry, Anita Dhanraj – Engineering and Technology, Wendy McKinnon – Registry, Marcia Trotman-Prince – Personnel, Dorrette Bacchus – Registry, and Diane Johnson – College of Medical&nbsp; Sciences.</p>

<p><strong>30 Years:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Margaret Williams – Social Sciences, Basil Bey – Natural Sciences, Arlene McLean – Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and Karen Roberts-Luke – University Library.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>35 Years:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Alim Hosein – Education and Humanities&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>40 Years:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Esther Overton-Ifill – Registry, Veronica Woolford – Bursary, Olive Samuels – Bursary, and Sandra Ramnarine – University Library.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
To view the ceremony kindly click here:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://zoom.us/rec/share/bTlHIk7HcQERoDottYq-K61X2VARU0I 4knD8fDp2Bm7h_jpOUJ3i5HY2wVWaFh5.t06_PcHs0XEbcDEr">https://zoom.us/rec/share/bTlHIk7HcQERoDottYq-K61X2VARU0I 4knD8fDp2Bm7h_jpOUJ3i5HY2wVWaFh5.t06_PcHs0XEbcDEr</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Programmes Offered&nbsp;</p>

<p>For a list of all University of Guyana’s graduate programmes please click on the&nbsp; following link: <a href="https://feh.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments/191/programmes/">https://feh.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments/191/programmes/&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>For a full list of UG’s Programme offerings kindly visit the following website:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.turkeyenonline.uog.edu.gy/srms/student/prospective/about_applying /offeredprogs.php.">https://www.turkeyenonline.uog.edu.gy/srms/student/prospective/about_applying /offeredprogs.php.</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prospective students can also find their programme of choice by exploring the&nbsp; following links:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>College of Medical Sciences - <a href="https://fhs.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://fhs.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments</a></p>

<p>Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry - <a href="https://faf.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://faf.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments</a></p>

<p>Faculty of Education and Humanities - <a href="https://feh.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://feh.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences –&nbsp;<a href="https://fees.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://fees.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Faculty of Engineering and Technology - <a href="https://fot.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://fot.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments</a></p>

<p>Faculty of Natural Sciences - <a href="https://fns.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://fns.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments</a></p>

<p>Faculty of Social Sciences - <a href="https://fss.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments">https://fss.uog.edu.gy/srms/departments&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) -&nbsp;<a href="https://idce.uog.edu.gy/programmes-offered">https://idce.uog.edu.gy/programmes-offered</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Assistance&nbsp;</p>

<p>For additional information and support please call UG’s New Help Desk Numbers:&nbsp; Turkeyen Campus Registration Support: 623-1941, 623-1867, 623-1869, 623- 1871,&nbsp; 623-1924, 623-1940, 623-1942, 624-1943, 623-1944, 623-1945, 623-1946, 623-1948,&nbsp; and Berbice Campus Registration Support: 623-1943, 623-1949.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>All University operations continue under the emergency regulations developed and&nbsp; implemented last semester to address safety under the COVID-19 conditions.&nbsp;</p>

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<p class="rtecenter"><strong>###&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>UG IN BRIEF&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The University of Guyana is the 58th-year State University of Guyana. It offers 136&nbsp; programmes in over 60 disciplines online and face-to-face in 8 campuses across&nbsp; Guyana. With a student population of now 10,000, UG has provided education,&nbsp; learning, and research for over 50,000 alumni. The mission of the University is to&nbsp;</p>

<p>discover, generate, disseminate and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the&nbsp; service of the community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of&nbsp; academic freedom that allows for free and critical inquiry. UG’s forward-thinking&nbsp; Blueprint 2040 is currently setting the course for the University’s future design and&nbsp; institutional response to the changing needs of Guyana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Contact:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ms. Krest Cummings&nbsp;</p>

<p>Public Relations Officer&nbsp;</p>

<p>Department of Events Conferences and Communications (DECC) 592-623-5104</p>
