Professor Jacob Opadeyi’s tenure at the University of Guyana (UG) has come to an end; he leaves behindProfessor Jacob Opadeyia legacy laced with bitter-sweet achievements.An improved financial situation can easily be categorised as sweet but his relationship with the University of Guyana Workers Unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) – could comfortably be labelled bitter.So controversial was the relationship between the former Vice Chancellor and the Unions that long before the end of his tenure they wished to see him go and even moved a No Confidence motion against him.But according to Professor Opadeyi,Cheap Jerseys China, who recently entertained questions about his relationship with the Unions, the whole state of affairs was in fact “a chicken and egg situation.” He in a detailed explanation conceded that the Unions were in fact incensed,Wholesale Jerseys USA, and rightly so,Cheap China Jerseys, because the salary afforded staffers are “very, very poor.”He however related that fulfilling the 60 per cent across the board increase demanded by the Unions simply was not feasible. “To do this we had to look at the ability of the Government to pay because if you say across the board it meant drivers, cleaners, everybody had to get 60 per cent.In an environment like that, once non-teaching staff get that then the whole country will come for 60 per cent and I was using my common sense to appeal to them…I didn’t know that sometimes common sense don’t work,” Professor Opadeyi considered.The Unions had on a number of occasions retaliated against his appeal with full blown strike action.Professor Opadeyi’s stint at the University came to an end on Monday. But according to him, “I think that we are back at the drawing board and trying to negotiate…there is need to increase the salary, there is need to improve the facilities of the University but we have seen some minimal improvements.”It is, however, the conviction of Professor Opadeyi that the real issue that has been facing the University is “how do you finance the University?” While the University usually benefits from a subvention from Government, Professor Opadeyi noted that this has proven to be insufficient.In his attempt to put the financing situation into context,Wholesale China Jerseys, he noted that “if a road (on campus) gets damaged because of wear and tear or a streetlight is not working, we have to use the fixed subvention to fix that. I wish that the Ministry (Infrastructure) could fix our roads, take care of our streetlights…we pay commercial rates to GPL (Guyana Power and Light Inc.) and our GPL bill is enough to kill anybody.“We have asked for special preference and they have said no…I said we are not a commercial entity…”But Professor Opadeyi asserted that in order to ensure that security is maintained at the University campuses, electricity is an important factor. “We have light bills and security bills, telephone bills (too), and these are statutory payments that must be paid and you cannot be financing that with tuition fee although these bills go up all the time,” informed the Nigerian-born Professor.As such he noted that the onus will be on the administrators of the University to sit down with Government and discuss the possibility of Government taking responsibility for the statutory bills.“It is a question of sitting down with the Government and saying ok can you take care of all those bills so that we can focus on teaching materials, laboratory materials and, things that are directly related to what we are doing…” theorised Professor Opadeyi.Another issue of concern that Professor Opadeyi is hoping will be regularised is what he described as the “contentious work load issue.” In fact he disclosed that this is one of the issues behind the strike actions initiated by the Unions and is still on the table for discussion.“The work load policy is at the heart of our efficiency but when you talk about value for money and when you look at our teaching load it is so small,Authentic Jerseys For Sale, and I am talking from my over 28 years of experience at other universities.“If that is related to the salary that is low then there is need for discussion…if salaries must be increased the workload must also be increased,” proposed Professor Opadeyi.? This is in light of his observation that there have been lecturers at UG who teach less than eight hours per week but “people would tell you that they are doing other things.”

Following reports of a paddy bug infestation in Region Six, it was pointed out that the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) initiated the publication of several paddy bug alerts in popular daily newspapers,Cheap Jerseys USA, advising farmers on how to proceed in achieving control.This newspaper has also learnt that several meetings with farmers were held in various districts to address queries of the paddy bug control method or other issues in that regard.Continuous monitoring and reports by the farmers revealed a second migration of the bugs into the fields.This, according to reports, can be attributed to fact that the fields in the same block were not sprayed together,NFL Jerseys China, abandoned fields were not targeted, and to high migration of the bugs from the nesting areas.Farmers were also assisted whereby an insecticide was procured and distributed for immediate application.A follow-up monitoring on the level of bug control revealed that three to four days later,Wholesale Jerseys USA, the insecticide was yet to be sprayed.In the meantime, the bugs continued to feed and cause damage to the grains, which eventually would have resulted in grade C to sub-standard paddy at the mills.In Region Six, monitoring after the distribution of the insecticide, Pronto, showed that control was achieved in Black Bush Polder and Upper Corentyne; however, in the Hogstye-Borlum area, a high infestation was still evident and a second assistance with Pronto was conducted immediately.Farmers in the area were also said to be advised to spray promptly and together in order to reduce the chances of migration of the bugs.The Hogstye-Borlum area remains susceptible to paddy bug attack since it was the last area in the region to be sown and possess staggered growth stages.To date,Cheap Jerseys From China, the crop has about one month more to reach maturity, while all other areas are concluding with harvesting and the circumstances present a continuous supply of food for the bugs.The average paddy bug damage recorded in the region so far is 12 per cent.The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the main recommendation for the management of paddy bugs and surveys of the areas affected showed a poor level of sanitation in and around rice fields and staggered sowing dates,Cheap NFL Jerseys, which are the first steps in applying this method to ensure management of paddy bugs.

An angry big brother was yesterday placed on a one-year bond to keep the peace after he pleaded guilty to threatening to lash out his sister’s teeth with a hammer and then escape to neighbouring French Guiana.Shawn Anthony of South Cummingsburg,Cheap Jerseys USA, Georgetown,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, was charged for abusive and threatening language against Wendy Anthony,Cheap Jerseys For Sale, his sister.The man who police said was under the influence of alcohol at the time appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive- Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.The police’s information stated that on July 10 at Georgetown,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, Anthony breached the peace when he engaged in the unlawful act. To the charge the unrepresented defendant pleaded guilty.The court prosecutor said that the defendant is the victim’s brother and they both reside in the same home. On the day in question about 21:00 hours,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, the sister was asleep in her room when the defendant came home under the influence of alcohol.The police said that the sister had engaged in conversation with her brother rebuking him for the way he kept his bedroom. The police said that Anthony became annoyed and threatened to lash out his sister’s teeth with a hammer. He further assured her that afterward he would escape to Cayenne.The prosecutor said that the complainant became annoyed and made a report to the Water Street Police mobile outpost. Anthony was later arrested, told of the offence he had committed and was charged at the Brickdam Police Station.Anthony in his defence told the court that he lived in his room and his sister wanted to take it over. Anthony continued that he and his sister had an exchange of words and he told her that he would beat her up but he never touched her.? The court asked Anthony whether he frequented Cayenne and he answered in the affirmative.Anthony said both him and his sister exchanged words and she also told him filthy things.The court then placed the defendant on the one year bond which would provide for him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The court advised that if possible,NFL Jerseys Outlet From China, the brother should apologise to his sister.The Magistrate reasoned that they are brother and sister and “teeth and tongue must bite”; she said that it is a fact of life that siblings clash. This she however said was no reason for the brother to abuse his sister.