“Never give up on your dream” – Georgetown Mayor

Georgetown’s Mayor, Alfred Mentore on Saturday graduated from the University of Guyana (UG) with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Guyana – a journey that began more than two decades ago.

“This degree made my job a lot easier. I was able to understand from an academic standpoint what I was doing in real life. It gave me a deeper perspective on how to address and apply my learnings to everyday matters and to make more informed decisions as Council head,” the Chief Citizen proudly said in an interview with UG’s Department of Events, Conferences and Communication (DECC).

But Mayor Mentore’s academic journey was anything but straightforward. More than 20 years ago, he pursued a degree in Economics in the late 1990s. Later, he switched to Banking and Finance in the early 2000s. Both times, life shifted, and so did his priorities. “I had to shelve my aspirations. I needed to secure a solid livelihood, develop a business portfolio, and build partnerships that created net worth. My work as a real estate investor and entrepreneur took precedence,” he explained.

Eventually, he found himself drawn into another area he always cared about—public service. “I always had an interest in politics,” he said. That interest grew into responsibility when he became a city councillor, later Deputy Mayor, and ultimately Mayor of Georgetown.

Still, the desire to finish what he started never left him. “Coming full circle… that has always been foremost in my mind. I felt it was necessary to complete this first step in my journey. And I’m not stopping here—my master’s is next. Learning is a lifelong journey,” he said.

When he finally returned to university, it was during one of the most challenging periods in modern history—COVID-19. “It was around 2020–2021. I had to care for citizens, discharge my responsibilities as Deputy Mayor, and continue working as part of an essential service entity,” he recalled.

At the same time, he was raising a young family, including two teens who still needed their father’s presence. “My family gave me the support I needed. A lot of resourceful people played their part in helping me pursue this degree.”

According to the Chief Citizen, balancing work and study was extremely difficult. “It was hard and tiring. I had to switch on and off between work and study and still put on a brave face every day.” Still, he found motivation in wanting to complete his degree before his daughter graduates next year. “I wanted bragging rights. And I wanted her to get her own moment,” he said with a laugh.

“The lecturers at UG were well informed and interactive. The experiences at UG strengthened my leadership capacity and widened my knowledge base. My learnings will truly shape how I see things locally, regionally, and internationally,” he shared.

“My role will always be to find workable solutions for the greater good of the City and the nation,” he added.

As he prepares to graduate, Mayor Mentore has a heartfelt message for public servants, working parents, entrepreneurs, and young people who feel that pursuing their education is beyond their reach: “Never give up on your dreams. Keep your sight on the prize! If I could come full circle and dedicate the time, while running the city, to complete this journey… why not you?”

He continued: “Many people are qualified for the job they are doing, but not certified. And sometimes someone comes along with a certificate and gets your job—not because they’re more capable, but because they’re certified. I believe certification and qualification are two distinct things. So regardless of your constraints, find a way to get certified. There are so many avenues now, online or otherwise. And Government is doing much more to make that journey possible.”

Mayor Mentore reminds us that no matter how long it takes, no matter how many times life redirects you, and no matter how heavy your responsibilities become—your dreams are still valid and still within reach.

The University of Guyana has produced upwards of 70,000 graduates in its 62-year existence – many of whom have gone on to serve at the highest levels in both the private and public sectors nationally and internationally.