UGSS set for elections this month

University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) Elections are set for September 2013 from noon to 17:30h for students in all faculties.

Over the last academic year outgoing UGSS President Ganesh Mahipaul was sent on indefinite administrative leave over allegations of misappropriation of students funds.

There were also calls for others on the executive body to face the axe. In particular, it was felt that the UGSS’ President, Secretary Adel Lilly and Treasurer Sherwin Benjamin should have all resigned because they were signatories to the UGSS pillaged account. The UGSS has since taken the position not to have Mahipaul return from administrative leave for the remainder of his tenure which ends when the new elected administration takes over in this month.

A UG audit of the UGSS revealed that the UGSS President had to repay over 1.3M to the Society.

Mahipaul had argued a case that he had “borrowed” the sums from the UGSS because his child was ill. UG’s administration insists that no “borrowing” is allowed under the UGSS constitution and he was ordered to repay the monies.

Meanwhile, three parties have launch bids in the UGSS elections race. ‘Revolutionaries’ launched their campaign in mid-August under Presidential Candidate Samaria Deonauth.

‘Team Visionary’, led by Jermain Hermanstyne, also, launched its campaign last week. The third party that has signaled an intention to contest the UGSS elections is the Students’ Empowerment Alliance (SEA) which led student government in 2011, and is now led by Richard N. Rambarran, with Saieed I. Khalil as vice-presidential candidate.