– UGSS President Though optimistic that things could be put in place shortly to allow for the re-opening of the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, President of the University’s Student Society (UGSS), Jason Benjamin, yesterday informed that from all indications the re-opening date may very well be until January 2009.And according to Benjamin during an interview with this newspaper, the delayed opening will not be as a result of neglect on the part of the university administration but rather Government’s failure to hand over the facility at a stipulated time.UGSS President Jason BenjaminThe university’s operation at the Turkeyen Campus was suspended June 30 last and it was handed to the government the following day to facilitate the removal of asbestos from a number of faculties and other buildings at a cost of approximately $200M.It was anticipated that the process would have been completed within a two-month period, allowing for the usual September commencement of the semester, according to Benjamin who is also a member of the university’s Asbestos Committee which has been monitoring the process of removal.And though the actual removal of asbestos has been completed, air testing of the buildings had commenced about two weeks ago by the A and E Consultancy Firm, to determine the quality of the atmosphere and hence allow the university administration to establish an opening date for the university.According to Benjamin,Jerseys From China, it was initially anticipated that the air testing process would have been completed last week but, according to reports from the contracted firm, the process is set to conclude next week.He related that his committee has been assured by the firm that the results of the tests will be made available by October month end,Deion Sanders Falcons Jersey, following which a definitive decision will be made on the re-opening date.And according to Benjamin, it is yet unlikely that the convocation activities slated for November will be a reality.He explained that it has been discovered that some students’ files were left at the Turkeyen campus and therefore cannot be processed, compounding the fact that the return of the university’s operations to the campus was scheduled to take just about 21 days.Benjamin theorised that should the air testing firm be able to give favourable results this month end and given the number of days before full operation returns to the campus there is no way that the convocation activities will be held in the second week of November.He revealed that plans are already apace to paint and lacquer the buildings that were infested with a view of reducing potential harm that could be caused by any remaining asbestos particles.It is the belief of the UGSS President that it is likely that the opening date of the campus will be in January, resulting in back to back semesters being forced upon students.The removal of the asbestos was expected to have been done in phases, with the first phase entailing the actual removal of the asbestos and a sanitising process after which the second phase of the replacement of roof was slated to commence.However,Bobby Orr Jersey, according to Benjamin, the contractor who was hired to undertake the removal process did not heed the guidance of the Asbestos Committee to place asbestos infested materials into plastic bags as they were removed.In essence, Benjamin asserted that the contractor allowed the asbestos materials to be simply broken into pieces, creating an even more dangerous situation which served to lengthen the process since they were still required to place the materials into plastic bags.The committee member pointed out that there should have never been a hindrance to the opening of the university slated for early September.An advertisement published recently by the university’s Public Relations Department had, however, stated that activities have already commenced for the start of the academic year 2008/2009.It stated that the activities have been taking place in the temporary quarters at the Dennis Irvine Hall of Residence,Wholesale China Jerseys, Goedverwagting, and at other locations as announced from time to time.However, it was noted that the full routine of registration, classes and all other matters will resume as soon as normal business returns to the Turkeyen campus, a date which is not yet known.The advertisement added that although the work on the buildings has been done, the university has to await the completion of exercises now in progress to sanitise the campus.It was highlighted that the sanitisation process is of utmost importance because of concern for the health and safety of students, staff and visitors to the university grounds.Furthe