Saeed Abdool Hamid, Class of 2015, Bachelor of Laws, the University of Guyana (UG), graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) on October 7, 2017 with the Legal Education Certificate.
According to a release from UG, Hamid was the recipient of several awards for outstanding performance, including the coveted Guyana Government Prize for the Best Performance by a Student from Guyana. Other awards include The Book Specialist Prize (Best Overall Performance – Academic and Extra-curricular Activities, shared with George Charlemagne) and The Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh Prize for Best Performance in the Human Rights Law Clinic. Mr Hamid also made the Principal’s Roll of Honour for achieving 6 or more ‘A’ grades from the 11 courses carried during the two years of study at the Law School.
He has since proceeded to the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, UK, pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law, which concludes in August 2018.
According to UG Registrar Dr Nigel Gravesande, “The entire University community salutes Mr Saeed Hamid, one of our 2015 Graduates, who has gone on to Hugh Wooding Law School and performed with distinction. Indeed, our Department of Law must be justly proud of the quality of training being delivered to our students pursuing studies in law.”
In reflecting on his success Hamid said, “It’s fair to say that resources at UG may not be the same as UWI or at other Universities, but each year we emerge successful whether it is at UG or where ever else we take our postgraduate education, because of the hard work instilled in us by the lecturers.”
He further stated that “While the programme at UG offers a good balance of courses providing students with ample public speaking opportunities and theory, students ought to take public speaking opportunities more seriously as it is a crucial part of the HWLS programme. UG provided me with a solid foundation to understand what it means to meet the demands of your teachers and how to do so effectively.”
The UG alumnus comes from a “business-oriented family”, and he stated that “studying law evolved from daring to be rebellious to a natural passion, which is crucial to succeeding. One mantra I have always lived by since my time at St. Roses High School is: ‘Failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ as cliché as it sounds, preparation is the launch pad for any attempt of achieving success.”
He acknowledged that “rigorous study schedules and limiting distractions are very important as well, but I’m not going to pretend that I studied continuously. It is important to have a balance between your studies and your leisure time. It’s also important to remember your family and friends are supporting you and not to lose sight of your goals, especially when you are studying abroad.”
Shaheed Hamid, Manager of Manager of Regent Household Electronics, Regent Road Bourda, is undoubtedly pleased with his son’s performance. He said that “Saeed has made his family and The University of Guyana extremely proud of his remarkable achievement. He went on to acknowledge the role the UG played in providing the foundation for his son’s success at Hugh Wooding and thanked his support base in Trinidad, both lecturers, and friends.” The senior Hamid further stated that he looks forward to the day when his son would “return to Guyana and serve the country of his birth.”
With a current enrollment of some 8,000 students, UG has graduated more than 20,000 students who have gone on to successful careers locally, regionally and internationally. The University is also a major contributor to the national economy and to business and industry. Established in 1963 on a part-time basis with shared space at Queens College, UG moved to its own campus at Turkeyen in 1970 and expanded in 2000 with the addition of the Tain Campus. It now offers more than 60 Under-graduate and Post-graduate Programmes including Engineering, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Urban Planning and Management, Tourism Studies, Education, Creative Arts, Economics, Law, Medicine, Optometry, and Nursing. Several online programmes are available and The UG also offers extra-mural classes at four locations through its Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE). The UG also offers the opportunity for student engagement in debating, sports, and cultural, religious and professional activities.
