Mr. Sieyf Shahabuddeen (at centre) making the presentation to UG’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Phillip Da Silva, in the presence of Librarian Gwyneth George.

FORMER Attorney General and Vice-President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Shahabuddeen has donated some 430 books, worth in excess of $2M, to the University of Guyana (UG).

The presentation was made, on his behalf, by his son Mr. Sieyf Shahabuddeen in the foyer of UG’s Library, at the Turkeyen Campus, East Coast Demerara.Accepting the collection for UG was Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Phillip Da Silva.

Dr. Shahabuddeen was also previously a judge of the International Criminal Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for then Yugoslavia.

The donation covers all areas, mainly law, from West Indian Reports, Laws of Guyana, Criminal Law, etc., and the literature also contains some of Dr. Shahabuddeen’s personal works that he authored and published.

His son remarked that, for an avid book lover, it can be hard to part with your collection, but this is, nevertheless, being done because of wanting to share with the younger generation.

He also observed that UG was the brainchild of late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan and pointed to how many people have derived benefit from the tertiary institution and have gone on to be very successful in life.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor agreed it is a good thing that the younger minds will be able to enjoy the collection.

UG Librarian, Ms. Gwyneth George told the Guyana Chronicle that the contribution is invaluable because some of Dr Shahabuddeen’s work is now out of print.

OPPORTUNE TIME
“UG is always building on its collection, especially works on the Caribbean and Guyana area. It comes at an opportune time when the idea of a law school is in the air, again, because we would need to augment the collection in that area and build on it if we are ever thinking of a law school.

“We also have to think of a law library and a solid law collection for our students,” she said.

George acknowledged that the collection is very valuable and will add to the research and the literature in not only the legal but in every field being taught in Guyana.

“In this period, when there are not so many nice things being said about the university so often, it is really touching to know that someone will donate such a valuable collection. This collection is valuable because it comes from a distinguished son of Guyana and it has extremely valuable information about our constitution, our law, our history, just about everything,” she admitted.