UG’s valedictorian calls for ‘inclusive’ development

Sean Pemberton managed to graduate as the valedictorian of the University of Guyana this year and completed his first degree – a four-year programme – in just three years.

To achieve this, the 22-year-old had to double on courses and this made his journey even more challenging.

Pemberton pursued a degree in Economics and is among 3,000 students who are graduating this year.

“I am ecstatic and I am shocked and not shocked at the sametime but I am relieved that I am graduating and I have a degree now and I am also the valedictorian, even though this isn’t the end of the journey, I am very happy [about] this accomplishment.

“In doubling up [of courses], I would have faced clashes and a plethora of assignments and then there are these six-hour exams but, I made it,” a proud Pemberton said during an interview with the News Room.

The young scholar said he wants to see inclusive and sustainable development in Guyana.

“I would like to see my country develop; I would like to see my country having a situation of inclusive development where every single citizen is able to benefit from the development in this country,” Pemberton related.

He believes that economics is important to mobilise the country’s resources towards development that is both inclusive and sustainable.

The young man now plans to pursue a Master’s in Economics; he believes this will enable him to specialise depending on the needs of the country.

“In doing economics, there are many branches; there is development economics, transport economics, labour all of which our country has a need for,” Pemberton said.

He is a former Queen’s College student and has always excelled in academics.

“At the university, I started in 2019, that is pre-pandemic period so I did most of my classes on campus and being a new university student, fresh out of high school, it was a bit challenging,” Pemberton said.

While in the second semester of his first year at UG, the pandemic hit these shores and in-person classes were disrupted.

He characterised studying during the pandemic as “walking through mud” and commended the University for its rapid adaptation “because I would not have been graduating today.”

To his graduating class, Pemberton applauded them for sticking to their aspirations and charting their own path to success.

“Today, I stand before you, not only as valedictorian but as a maker of history, for this is perhaps the first-time ever that a valedictorian has been named from the Department of Economics,” Pemberton said in his graduation speech at the weekend.

He also used the opportunity to implore business leaders, policy makers and university officials to offer more job opportunities, internships, and scholarships to UG graduates.

“Too often new graduates run into the brick wall that I call graduates’ dilemma. To get a job [that] commensurate with your education requires experience, but you cannot get that experience without first getting such a job. How are our new graduates expected to proceed under such circumstances?” Pemberton stated.

The valedictorian called for the establishment of a task force to develop a conducive framework which would prepare graduates for the workforce.

He also highlighted the need for graduates to benefit from various tax incentives. (Isanella Patoir)