Cheddi Jagan Lecture Theatre symbolic of CBJ's vision
By Shirley Thomas
Guyana Chronicle
November 20, 2003
The University of Guyana on Monday formally declared open a new lecture threatre designed to bring relief to the rapidly overcrowding situation its Turkeyen University campus.
The Cheddi Jagan Lecture Theatre, built in memory of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan through whose instrumentality the university was established in Guyana in September 1963, was declared open by his widow and former President Ms. Janet Jagan.
Among the distinguished gathering assembled on the university's courtyard for the handing over ceremony was Prime Minister and Acting President, Mr. Samuel Hinds.
The massive three-storied edifice, designed and constructed by engineer Egbert Carter, at a cost of some $55 million, was handed over by the University of Guyana's Endowment Fund Trustees, of which Mr. Yesu Persaud is Chairman. Chairing the programme was Dr. Leslie Chin, one of the earliest lecturers to have served on the university's staff roll.
Monday's handing over ceremony was planned to coincide with the university's 40th anniversary. Dr. Chin recalled that the idea of a university for the then British Guiana, was conceptualized by Prime Minister, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Dr. Chin recalled that such a concept in 1963 was considered by many "way ahead of time."
The university began as a night school, referred to as the "Cheddi Jagan Night School", and classes were held at Queen's College. It began with a humble 500 persons, and has progressed to an overspilling 5,000 students, operating under cramped conditions. This, according to Vice Chancellor, Dr. James Rose, has forced the George Walcott Lecture Theatre, "about the most beautiful University Hall in the Caribbean," to be converted to full time class rooms.
Therefore, the new lecture theatre, Dr. Chin asserted, was dedicated "in honour of Dr. Jagan, in acknowledgement of his vision and foresight in the colonial period."
Said Dr. Rose: "Enrollment in 1963 was optimistically set at 500. In 2002, it had not grown significantly in role and space, but tremendously, in terms of enrollment.
It was Dr. Rose's idea that the Queen's College premises be vacated and a full time university be constructed, and after occupying Q.C. for some time, the university staff and student population moved the Turkeyen campus.
On the occasion of the university's 30th anniversary in October of 1993, Dr. Leslie Chin, Mr. Egbert Carter and Mr. Lloyd Searwar were mandated to head the Endowment Fund. Within a short period, the fund was able to invest half a million dollars in student bulletins, and less that ten years later funded a $55 million theatre.
At the handing over ceremony, Ms. Janet Jagan in her brief remarks said she was extremely happy that the opening of "this beautiful building" for the benefit of the students, was taking place during the 40th anniversary celebrations.
Concurring that the vision and idea of the setting up of a local university came from Dr. Jagan, Ms. Jagan, reading a quotation from his "West on Trial" noted that: "The University of Guyana was set up in September, 1963, to provide higher education inside the country, for a large number of students who before, could not afford to go abroad."
"He was looking towards the future of his country, and the future of his people," she said. Ms. Jagan also paid tribute to the 'dynamic Senator and former Minister of Education and Community Development, Mr. C.V. Nunes, now residing in England. She credited him for his sterling contribution toward the education system. "He did a fine job; he was able to implement many of the ideas that Dr. Jagan had," she said.
Noting that her government's greatest impact on education has been during the period 1961- 64, Ms. Jagan conceded that the University of Guyana began in one of the most difficult and trying periods in Guyana's history.
Lauding the University's achievement and continuing to wish the University well, Ms. Jagan acknowledged the efforts of all those who made contributions - financial and otherwise.