Location: Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown
Classification: Educational
Period/ Year Built: Established 1963, Turkeyen Campus built 1969/1970
Historical Background / Description:
The University of Guyana, Guyana’s only National University, was established in April 1963. The University’s main campus is located in Turkeyen, approximately 7.5 kilometres (4.6 miles) east of Georgetown. The university began operating in October 1963, with 164 students within the compound of Queen’s College before moving into its Turkeyen Campus in 1969/1970. During its early years, the institution offered programmes in the area of Arts, Natural and Social Sciences. Throughout the years, other faculties and departments were added to the university’s portfolio. The University of Guyana opened its Tain Campus in Berbice in 2000.
Found within the Turkeyen Campus is the Cubana Air Disaster Monument also referred to as the Cubana 455 Monument. This monument was erected in honour of the 73 persons (68 passengers and 5 crew members) who died when two bombs exploded on a Douglas DC-8 aircraft on Flight 455 which was destined to Cuba on October 6, 1976. Among the dead were 57 Cubans inclusive of the crew members, 5 Koreans and 11 Guyanese. The monument was unveiled on October 15, 2012, by President Donald Ramotar. The monument has a large plaque with the names of all those who died inscribed on it.