“We had some realities that we needed to change and we must find ways to use this new reality adequately, safely and in our best interest.” This was the declaration by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Ivelaw Griffith as he gave remarks at the official opening of new offices and a study room at the University’s Turkeyen Campus.
The Building which now houses the new offices and study room.
With the addition of new programmes within the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, there was a demand for the expansion of the building in order to create an environment more conducive to teaching and research.
The project which had been in the pipeline for a number of years, came to fruition under the current Dean of the faculty, Owen Bovell who noted that, “ The Vice-Chancellor and I worked together and we got an initiation of the process of the building, and we are grateful as a faculty for this new facility and we will take pride in it.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Delma Nedd giving her remarks.
Also present at the ceremony was the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Delma Nedd who pointed to the fact that the building’s purpose further assists her ministry.
“This enclosure has now created more space for agriculture, training research and conversation as we move towards agriculture research and education in Guyana,” Nedd remarked.
The PS also went on to say that due to the economy’s domination by natural resources and agriculture production; and in light of the fact that a national consultation on establishing a University of Guyana Institute of Food and Nutrition Security between Ministry of Agriculture and University of Guyana was recently convened, the work of the faculty is only just beginning.
Vice-Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith giving his address.
Also present at the ceremony were lecturers of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and President of University of Guyana Students Society.
The new extension which cost $30M houses five additional offices which would cater for eight more staff members, a sanitary block which also caters for the physically disabled, along with a study room, fire escape and a patio. The expansion was managed by a building committee which assessed the needs of students and staff in order to make the space comfortable and accessible.
Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Owen Bovell (left) and other officials during the ribbon cutting exercise.
