Dominica’s sole electricity company, DOMLEC, on Friday made a donation of $10,000 to the Education Trust Fund, $5000 more than what was contributed last year.
General Manager of DOMLEC, Bertilia Leblanc- Mckenzie, said the company has an interest in education and has been supporting the Fund for over five years.
“DOMLEC has always demonstrated its interest in the future of our school age students and our young people and in that regard we have been supporting the Education Trust Fund for over five years now,” she said at a handing over ceremony held at the Ministry of Education’s Cornwall Street office.
Additionally, she said, DOMLEC is funding 21 secondary school scholarships from across the island and is participating in the National Employment Programme.
“We have seven young people employed with DOMLEC at this time; we also have one person at the Dominica State College and DOMLEC is well known for its summer internship programme in which every year, the company employs, on average, 35 young persons during the summer…” she noted. “So our contribution to the young people of this country is known and we will continue to do so, I pledge.”
She said when she became General Manager of DOMLEC, she reviewed the donation to the Fund and was not pleased.
“So we have decided instead of giving the $5,000 that we give every year, we decided to do $10,000 this year,” Leblanc-McKenzie noted.
She also pledged that DOMLEC will continue to contribute to the development of the young people in Dominica as a corporate entity.
Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean, said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students who have benefited from the Education Trust Fund.
“It means therefore as these numbers increase that there, of course, is increasing need for more financial resources within the Education Trust Fund and that is where corporate citizens like DOMLEC fit in…” he noted.
He expressed ‘profound gratitude’ to DOMLEC and called on the general public and corporate citizens to get involved in what goes on at the Education Trust Fund.
“While some of us believe that it is ok because my child is able to access secondary or college education, there are some Dominicans who still need the assistance,” he explained. “I believe that education is not a privilege but it is a right of every Dominican and more so every Dominican child.”
Chairman of the Education Trust Fund, Willie Fevrier, thanked DOMLEC and other corporate citizens for their contribution, “for recognizing the importance of an education of our young people in Dominica.”
He also called on corporate citizens to contribute to the fund.
The Education Trust Fund will hold its radiothon on June 27.
The Education Trust Fund was established by an Act of Parliament in 1981, and its primary objective was to assist disadvantaged Dominican youth who do not have the opportunity to successfully complete secondary school because of their financial situation.
Another comment on Domlec profit. If we have an item which cost EC$100.00 and we sell it for EC$125.00, we make EC$25.00 surplus which is 25.0%, Domlec gross revenue in 2014 was $101.9 million, now make the calculation to its profit. Also the difference between the 30.0% to 28.0% reduction in corporate income tax amounts to $3.3 million. Get a copy of Domlec financial report for 2014 and check the figures for your self. We must not only look at the profit, but look at what has contributed to it and who are the shareholders who also benefit by dividend payments. As Domlec equity increases, so too are the shareholders value increases.
Here we go again begging a private company for crumbs. What we should be doing as Dominicans buy 51 percent of shares own the company again and then we can decide we we bring down the rates or not. It was ours you let the world bank tell you what to do. So now you all are proffesional beggers again. Dont know what to do and ask for I gave you the answer by the majority of shares and you will control again. The Americ as ns told England I will not say God save the Queen. Caribean people have the Queen on their currency and kids in school still say God save the Queen. What about God saving Black people from begging for food and shelter jobs, and every thing in the world. As a people we do nothing but be proffesional beggers own it
@ Salisbury Farmer:
I getting tired of your silly rhetoric wi
Some people need to cultivate the virtue of gratitude and thanks and, from the heart, meaning it.
Every scholar and youth in Dominica benefits from DOMLEC’s contribution.
I got this one from a Catholic Church bulletin: “A thankful heart has a continuous feast.” Indeed!
As heard on US Catholic Radio, stated by a saint: “Gratitude to people is gratitude to God.”
We must ever be grateful and thankful for whatever help, be it big or small that we receive. It is given from the heart, from funds. It is the thought and giving which count.
Dominicans especially must thank DOMLEC for its gift to the Education Trust Fund which will help the Dominican scholars.
It is noted that DOMLEC has contributed for approximately 5 years and also to the National Employment Programme. Consider the accumulated amount for those years. As a Dominican enterprise, I think DOMLEC has done much with more to come as the years progress.
And so, a resounding “THANK YOU” should go out to DOMLEC.
Instead of charging us high rates up front, then doing this so that we don’t complain, why not just lower the rates so that we will not need an education trus fund and educate our citizens ourselves…… get it? self sufficient, rather than take our money then give it back to us like a favor and have our ministers and others licking your hands saying ya ya ya ya ya, duh!
What if the shop keepers do the same and justify charging us $25 for a Quenchy then giving our children free pencils for school. What a slap in the face! Hello….. .. any body home looking out for us??
Seriously, with the multi million profit only $10,000? come on Domlec!
Have you considered contributing some dollars and what would your portion be? This would greatly assist.
But is true. Grandbayrian speak right.
They should have a cut a check for Rotary, Lions, Leo, Jaycees, etc.
Give back more to the communities man.
That is less than the salary of one of the top staff. Come on Domlec. From $8million profit no less than $100,000 will do.
It is so easy to state when you are on the outside looking in.
So what is that out of a profit of 14 Mil.?
Umm…$10,000 after a $14 million profit??
I’d like to know the value of ALL their charitable contributions this year. One can give a $100 scholarship…its still a scholarship right. After taking in $14 Million from the people of Dominica…the minimum that should be granted back is $1.4 Million. Anything less is a spit in the face.
$10,000 and the Minister of miseducation is smiling like a buffoon like this is something substantial.
People of Dominica open your eyes…this is ONE THIRD of ONE MONTH’S PAY for the president of Dominica. And you wonder why we need an educational trust fund to begin with?!
Do you expect DOMLEC to give away its profits? What if next year may not be as profitable? Furthermore, DOMLEC has overall expenditures.
Few enterprises give away that much money. DOMLEC doubled its gift. $10,000 is a lot and for Dominica. It would be helpful If others contributed as much. They should be challenged.
A survey should be made of the biggest talkers who constantly criticize and knock everything, to determine how much they assist Dominica or plan to.
Let us be fair. In this era, even though we grumble, we should know nothing comes cheap. In other words, we get nothing for nothing. If we get something for nothing, we will soon find out it is not worth a thing. The saying, “We get exactly what we pay for.” In most cases, this is true. It is something some people do not give a thought to.
Frankly speaking, does DOMLEC really have to contribute anything? You act as if this enterprise is obligated to contribute, to give from its revenue. Where is your gratitude?
The Minister is correct to smile at having been given a cheque for $10,000. Surely, you do not expect him to accept it with a sour face and ingratitude? His smile tells all. It is worth a million dollars.
If a big enterprise or any for that matter would hand me that amount which I did not work for, I would kiss the hand or give a hug and follow it up with a card of thanks. There are some people who would do so out of gratitude and thankfulness.
I would say that most people have taken Domlec profit of $14.8 million out of context as compared to the previous year. In the last year budget the government reduced corporate income tax from 30.0% to 28.0% and this has resulted in a reduction of Domlec deferred income tax liability which was not the same in 2013,and contributed to increase profit. All companies will also benefit. While revenue have increased by 3.02%, the company has become more efficient in reducing expenses. Domlec does not, and repeat, does not fix the rate the consumers pay, it’s the IRC which has that authority. Regarding Domlec profit, 48.0% of the company is owned by Dominicans of which Dominica Social Security (DSS) owns 22.0% of its shares. All Dominican who are contributors and recipients of DSS pensions benefit from Domlec profit. Also there many Credit Unions and a wide cross section of Dominican who are shareholders and while they are consumers, also benefit from their dividend.
I think that people would appreciate lower electric bills more. Another thing on the geothermal issue that has come to light and DA is on the list, is that arsenic content in water becomes an issue with this type of energy.