The University of Guyana Library has received a donation of books, equipment and supplies from Siefy Shahabuddeen, son of the former Attorney General and International Court of Justice (ICJ) Judge, Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen.

Valued at approximately $2.4M, the donation comprises 1,151 printed publications, five printers, two book trolleys, along with a substantial amount of stationery and supplies. According to the university, the books cover the areas of law, history, politics, literature, religion, spirituality to the paranormal and ufology. The items were handed recently to Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, C.C.H., Vice Chancellor and Principal, at a simple ceremony held on the Turkeyen Campus.

Speaking at the occasion, Shahabuddeen pointed out that the donation is dedicated to the memory of his parents, Judge Mohamed Shahabuddeen and Ms Sairah Shahabuddeen, who were both givers. “The Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to Mr Siefy Shahabuddeen for the significant donation, and disclosed that the library will officially dedicate a section in honour of Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen’s extraordinary contribution to scholarship in the areas of law, politics and economics,” according to the release from the university.

Shahabuddeen had previously made a donation of 430 books, worth in excess of $2M, in April 2014. Shahabuddeen was born in Supenaam, Essequibo Coast, on November 10, 1957, receiving his education in Guyana at Queen’s College, and The University of Guyana. He also attended the Cave Hill Campus of The University of the West Indies and Hugh Wooding Law School.

He was admitted to the bar in Guyana in 1987 as an Attorney-at-Law and was thereafter attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions as State Counsel, representing the State in criminal trials in the High Court. Shahabuddeen was admitted to the Bar in Ontario, Canada, in 1996 as a Barrister and Solicitor. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed a Notary Public. In Canada, he worked in the private sector, ran a private legal practice in Toronto, and later joined the Federal Public Service. He retired from the public service in November 2017 at age 60, and lives with his wife Anita in the city of Mississauga, just west of Toronto.

Article adapted from: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2018/07/01/ug-library-receives-2-4m-donation-in-books-equipment-stationery-and-supplies/