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guyanatimesgy.com
MonDAY, December 16, 2013
Professor Daizal Samad is calling for more academic programmes to be offered at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus
F
ormer director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, Professor Daizal Samad has lauded the private sector in the ancient county for its unswerving support to the institution and its students. In an exclusive interview with Berbice Times, the academic also renewed his call for more degree programmes to be added to the university’s curriculum. He said the campus, which has a critical role to play in national development, has developed a strong link with the private sector. Samad explained that just three days before the recent graduation, the campus did not have a stage. However, contact was made with the business community in the Upper Corentyne and a stage worth $1 million was erected in
less than six hours. The professor said the support of the combined chambers of commerce has also been overwhelming. Meanwhile, at a recent forum with the sub- committee of the council held on campus, several issues were raised by students and members of the community. Among them was the longstanding addition of more degree programmes. Students had highlighted the fact that travelling to the capital city to continue their programmes, not only pressures them financially, but inadvertently affect their family lives. Professor Samad during the interview pointed out that the issue had been among the many challenges the campus faced during his four year tenure. While degrees in agriculture, education, English, public management and
most recently, social work were brought to the campus, Professor Samad still believes that the campus needs proper administration. At the launching of the social work degree a few months ago, UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi had made a promise that the remaining degree programmes would soon come on stream. Professor Samad commented: “Well, if it happens, it will be good, but we have been working on it for years now. The degree in biology is problematic. It was turned down by the academic board.” Samad said he was told that the reason for this is inadequate staff. “We have a situation where if you don’t have a programme, you don’t have a staff. If you don’t have a staff, you don’t have the programme and that is the kind of thing that paralyses us.” Students had proposed ways in which the university could move forward, benefiting both themselves and society at large. Some 37 years after its establishment, Guyana’s premier university extended its services to the Berbice County, at Port Mourant, Corentyne in 2000. At its embryonic stage, the campus offered two-year undergraduate certificates in education, diplomas in accountancy, English, marketing, public management and social work. The Berbice campus has two locations: the main campus at Tain and another at Johns, which houses the Faculty of Natural Science. Over 200 students graduated last month from the campus in various disciplines. (Alexis Rodney)
Parental support key to top students’ performance
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he top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students in Berbice have credited their successes to strong parental support. Former Cropper Primary School student Renee Bisnauth is now happily attending the Berbice High School after topping the region at this year’s NGSA, while former Skeldon Line Path Secondary student Kelvin Tekram is employed at a bank in Corriverton. According to Bisnauth, who gained 540 marks at this year’s NGSA, her parents played a big role in helping her prepare for the examinations. She said, apart from her former head teacher, her father also worked with her. “My mother will wake me up in the morning when I have to study and my parents did not allow me to do house work once I started to study for ‘Common Entrance’,” she
in the country, obtaining 12 grade ones, two grade twos and eight distinctions, including distinctions in mathematics and English A and B.
Renee Bisnauth (left) and Kevin Tekram with their awards on Friday
said. “I will get up at 05:30h and study for an hour before going to do what I have to do and prepare for school.” She said there were free lessons held after school five days a week during which they revised work done dur-
ing regular school time. She was expecting to do well and top the country, but she is not disappointed. Bisnauth is the 2011 national spelling B winner and placed fourth in the regional competition. Tekram was 39th overall
Support He said preparing to sit 14 subjects was difficult, but determination led to his success. He told this publication that he always viewed assignments as a challenge. “My parents supported me throughout both financially and emotionally. Whenever I had to stay up to study, one of my parents will always be there with me. My sister who wrote exams in 2011 was always there to assist me.” Tekram is still undecided as to his career and says that he is now taking it easy until he makes up his mind on what he really wants to do. “I don’t want to rush into anything and then after wards I have to say that I am not prepared for this. I want to be sure of what I am going to do.” continue on page 7
Residents of the benevolent home are looking forward to a bright Christmas
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y its very name, it should be a benevolent home – taking care of the less fortunate and helping to care for the elderly – but the Good Samaritan Home in New Amsterdam is in dire straits, with the handful of residents there running short of some of the basic necessities and the building rapidly deteriorating. The home located at 41 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam has been in existence for quite a number of years and assists with caring for and providing a home for elderly, desolate women in society. Currently, the home has 10 residents with the eldest being 94-year-old Rampattie Ramkarran. According to reports, the home was previously managed by a group of churches in New Amsterdam, but this no longer obtains as the Roman Catholic Church is the only one continuing to upkeep the home. Residents do not pay for lodging in the home and the utility bills are covered by the St Vincent de Paul Society, a Catholic non-profit organisation, which manages the day-today affairs of the home. However, the residents continue to be in dire need of assistance.
Optimistic Speaking to Berbice Times, the matron of the facility, Irma Hughes said she was forced to take over duties from Joan Veronica Fredricks, who is ill. Hughes said there are several basic needs unmet at the home and she is optimistic that God will intervene for the Christmas season and speak to tender-hearted citizens to donate generously to the home. “We always in need of groceries and we really need milk and a sink to wash our kitchen utensils in,” she said, while lamenting the fact that the snacks (biscuits) the home was receiving from Banks DIH Limited are no longer forthcoming since they were told that their contract had expired. “We do want we lil snacks and if anyone can give us some biscuits, we will be so happy,” she said. She added that the residents would love to have a television for the Christmas season so that they can have some form of entertainment. According to Hughes, there have been promises from several residents to assist them, but so far they are still awaiting the fulfilment of those promises. Meanwhile, Fredricks said she is praying to God for a Christmas tree and some nice curtains for the home. Rude She also told this publication that both of her feet are now heavily infected with elephantiasis and due to this, she is very uncomfortable doing her daily chores. “I used to go New Amsterdam Hospital for treatment and when the nurses see me, they does make up dem face,” she lamented, disclosing that she was once told by the nurses there that they cannot tend to her feet and she will have to do it herself. Fredricks said with the little money she has and with advice from persons, she is forced to take care of herself. “I really need help with my sickness and I beg if a doctor can help me take care of it. I am really suffering and feel neglected and unwanted by people that look at me differently,” she said tearfully.