Oct 14, 2026
2 min read
Analesia D'Aguiar and Marlon O'Donoghue were named the top students as the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) graduated 102 students at its 61st ceremony.
D'Aguiar, who completed the Certificate in Forestry with a GPA of 3.97, the highest in the class, received the Chairman's Prize as the best graduate of the Essequibo Campus.
O'Donoghue received the Chief Executive Officer's Prize as the best graduate of the two-year programmes at the Mon Repos Campus, completing the Diploma in Agriculture with a GPA of 3.71.
Grenadian nationals Jacob Thomas and Adonis Jones were also recognised among the outstanding performers.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who delivered the feature address, said the Government remained committed to strengthening agricultural education and creating opportunities for young professionals.
"Of the 102 graduates, 65 are women and 37 are men. This is a significant reflection of the changing face of agriculture in Guyana," he said.
Of the graduates, 66 earned a Credit or Distinction, and 10 students referred in 2025 completed their programmes this year. They came from nine of Guyana's 10 administrative regions and included 12 students from CARICOM countries, 10 from Grenada and two from Saint Lucia.
Mustapha said agricultural education must keep pace with new technology, competitive markets and climate change. He said the sector grew 11.5 per cent in 2025, while budgetary allocations rose from $18.4 billion in 2020 to $113.2 billion in 2026.
He said financing through the Guyana Development Bank could help eligible young entrepreneurs start farms, agro-processing businesses and agricultural services.
"But access to education must be matched by access to opportunity," he said.
The GSA was re-registered with the National Accreditation Council of Guyana through 2029.
The school began operations on September 9, 1963, at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, and has since produced 4,497 graduates.
