Finance Minister- Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit- says delinquent student loans at the Agricultural Industrial and Development (AID) Bank will hurt the education sector.
The AID Bank is threatening to publicize the names of students who have become delinquent.
Skerrit told the official ground opening ceremony of the San Sauveur Primary School on Wednesday, that guilty parties should attempt to pay in an effort to prevent such a catastrophe.
“This can potentially affect the children in realizing their dreams for their education and professional development.
“This is regrettable, for it means that the bank may be forced to apply more stringent conditions for accessing student loans. These conditions may make it impossible for children to obtain a loan when ready to pursue a degree in Dominica or abroad,” he said.
According to Skerrit, when one signs an agreement they should stick to it.
– DNO Correspondent
Are not the Jobs, commerce and industries are being given to state sponsored Chinese?
Is not every citizen in a communist or socialist state an agent of that state?
Domlec now sueing the Govt for 100,million dollars. Yes, more than the international airport… Did they not deny dominicans from investing in the energy sector?
yet another conflict of interest.
Being paid to clean up the mess they made?
Isn’t tony is being paid by government to represent … against the state “not even the constitution can stop Roosvelt …” by registering to be candidates for the Dec 18 2009 elections?
Yes the laws are clear on both the French and Dominican sides. A french citizen cannot hold a post in the military nor civil/government services unless acting as an agent of France.
Dominica law prohibits a person from being a member of parliament if that person has an allegiance with a foriegn power.
Time to invoke the treason act.
Dear Mr. Prime Minster,
I had the opportinuity to read your article of the deliquency issue facing the bank in Dominica. Student loan deliquent is not an issue that only face Dominican
and the bank, it a serious problem worl wide, however, it is the responsiblity of the government as well as the banks to find a common ground to help those who are unable to pay-back their student loan in timely manner. For example, we encourage our student to attend school. However, after the completion of their program they cannot find work to pay back their loan and that’s why the problem comes. So lets take a look at different ways that help can come to them. There a three ways that the government and the banks can help these student (1) Student Loan Consolidation: It means that the band can look at how many loans these student have and combind them together, so the student can pay a lower payment with a low interest rate (2) Student Loan forgivenessIt means that the government can have thses student volunteer in various program for a period of years and pay-off their loan, and (3) the bank can offer the student a Student Loan Deferment based on Economic Hardship. it means that they are not working therefore, their Loan is in deferment. This aways we can help This student come out of the situation, not just calling pon them to pay-back their loan.
Thank You .
Leroy Registe
Surely there must be a better way to go about this. Besides, one cannot guarantee that the loans are going to be repaid even if the names of these individuals are publicized. On another note, these people should show some responsibility and call up the bank to negotiate some type of repayment plan.
they finish study, they have life sweet in the states, refuse to come back to dominica cauz they believe they so up!! but wait…….. is the same dca money that have them where there be!!!! pay ppl loan so dat other will have the chance & opportunity to study!!!! TIME UP!
First of all, do they all have jobs in their respective field of studies or do they even have a job at all? And how many jobs did the PM help create in the last decade?
I respect you Mr Skerrit but I cannot believe you are entertaining that silly threat made by this bank for non repayment of loans. How can you encourage to take the law into their own hands. These people are not criminals. Only a court should be allowed to name and shame..not a bank. What if people chose to print the name and photo of the person threatening to do this with some nasty comment with it..would that be allowed as well. Also are you the only country in the world you havent heard of data protection?
A loan is a private contract between a lender and a borrower. The borrower has an obligation to repay the loan or risk forfeiture of all collateral. As already mentioned by Duchess, are students the only delinquents? Why shouldn’t we publicize the dlinnquent home loans, auto, agricultural and business loans? How many of us owe the local shopkeeper and refuse to pay? Those who are without sin, cast the first stone.You may be living in that glass house.
Dominicans love bef and would like to see the names and photographs of the delinquent borrowers. As stated by Looking In, “Aid Bank, don’t be afraid to put those deadbeats on the internet.Some of them in the USA playing big shot. I can’t wait; publicize them shameful”. But Politrics made the most valid point. Banking and privacy laws will be violated.
The open letter stated, “we will publish your name and photograph in local newspapers, Dominican news websites, social networking websites, the Banks own website and other selected media in our attempt to determine your whereabouts. This could prove EMBARRASSING TO YOU among your co-workers, employers and friends, fellow churgh members- anywhere you are in the world and could SERIOUSLY AFFECT your credit rating.”
So the intent is to cause malice. Former employers and creditors cannot malign former employees and borrowers,respectively.They can legally report you to a credit reporting bureau where potential employers,creditors, insurance companies, landlords and those authorized by you can access your credit worthiness. But publicizing the names will have serious legal implications.
Oreally asks, “Where on eatth will students who owe the bank get the money to pay the legal fees?” Have you heard of pro bono? They will do it for free if you are unjustly maligned. There are also those who do not charge unless they win your case. With a windfall of cash in a class action lawsuit, they will compete for the opportunity to represent. They receive a large percentage of the windfall. So de careful Aid Bank! Your right can become your wrong. Now may be a good time to have a delinquent Aid Banh student loan. No kidding Politrics. Think rationally Aid Bank. You may end up the big loser. Selling collateral is part of the contract; publicizing names is not. This will be an illadvised and dangerous precedent.
You know what?….We are experiencing an International Financial crisis,So why can’t there be some form of compromise here?….I wonder who owns the Aid Bank,isn’t it the Govt.?..So why can’t there be a better solution to this problem instead of the implementation of those draconian measures?…There must be reasons why these Students defaulted on their Loans,one of which could be Financial hardship…What are the interest rate of these Loans?….Look here, no one could have predicted the Financial crisis that we find ourselves in today. So what most Banks are doing is,they are restructuring Loans for those people who are experiencing such difficult times and offering lower interest rates. Making it more affordable for the borrower.Why can the Aid Bank do the same for these Students?
It is not nice to vilify these Students and calling them wicked and all sorts of names. For instance,a Student comes home from studying abroad,get a job,whether it’s with the Govt.,or private sector with an average pay of $2,800.00(e.c) a month. After your deductions..taxes,social etc.,you are left with about $2,500.00,your loan payment is between $1,500 to $1800 a month,can one survive on the ballance, after paying your utilities etc.? Come on. Let us work towards finding solutions to problems,instead of taking the easy road of blaming and tearing each other apart…..Just remember,
“De same stick wey lick de wild goat ah de stick dat ah go lick de tame”.
It’s regretable that the Pm is calling it a catastrophe, and taking the position that he is…..There should be better Leadership in situations like this.
We need a better System,and a revision of some of the Laws.
Thank you……..and Peace Profound!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They take the peoples money and was happy to have gotten it and spend it off, sometimes a quarter or more of it on none essential academic expenses. If you understood what was written the bank is behind those that never looked back, not those that are trying,whether they came back home or spit behind their back and never return. And if by any chance you would have read the open letter and you understood it, you would have realized that the bank is willing to negotiate. Read it again. Please read it again.
Mr PM well said! Its time for those wicked students to pay up!
They are the ones that have us suffering here in D/a. by not paying the banks and the
banks are squeezing us.
If they cann’t pay , publish their names and photos!.
Take whatever property they have or parents to retrieve the loan money! Period!
WELL SAID, WELL SAID,ALL THE WANT IS A FREE RIDE,
Honestly, Dominica is a jobless market right now. Those who have jobs hold on to it very tightly and those who don’t have to scrape the floors to try to survive here or move out of the nature isle. Now, how many people who move away from here are going to continue paying loans here; especially if they can’t be forced to? Secondly, I have to admit that a certain trend is being set by the people of high social repute in this country and even law enforcement seems to be almost non-existent among certain groups. Therefore, I suspect that this “trend” is causing a lot of the youth growing up to become less and less responsible. It is unfortunate mainly because it is something that we can fix, but don’t seem to want to.
I don’t see where politics come into that, if anyone needs bashing, take it up with the AID Bank. Thanks for reminding those deliquent students Mr.PM.
WAY TO GO PRIME MINISTER. I WOULD APPRICIATE IF YOU WOULD PUBLICIZE THE NAMES OF THOSE DELIQUENT STUDENT LOAN PAYERS.ALTHOUGH MOST OF THEM ARE BEING TORTUED BY THE CRIES OF THER FAMILIES WHO ARE DEAD OR ALIVE. THEY ARE ALREADY BEING PUNISHED SEVERELY BY GOD BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN THEIR FAMILIES ARE GOING THROUGH JUST FOR BEING A GOOD SAMARITANT TO THEM. BY LISTING THEIR NAMES ANYWHERE MAYBE GOOD
DOMINICAN CITIZENS LIKE MYSELF AND OTHERS COULD TRACK DOWN THESE CRIMINALS TO AID BANK PERSONNEL. SOME OF THEM ARE SO ASHAME OF THEMSELVES , THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF RETURNING BACK TO DOMINICA, THEREFORE, THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT AID BANK WILL BE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THOSE MONEY.THE ONLY WAY TO GET BACK THE MONEY FROM THESE SELFISH MONEY TAKERS IS TO HUNT THEM DOWN AND FREEZE THEIR ACCOUNTS
I have never understood this practice of publicizing the names of individuals who have been dilinquent in paying off their debts. Can someone identify other countries where this happens.
I admire my PM, but did he enjoy have his name associated with negative events? To me the is no difference. Is there no other way for the Bank an other institutions to address this problem. How about having a company official track down this individual and have a face to face discussion on how to clear this debt? I suppose that would be too much time and money wasted for the company.
This disclosure of names is like a subtle form of harassment. It is not nice at all.
I do understand the need to retrieve the money from the borrowers, but this is too much.
Publicizing their name would be the most effective way to force some kind of negotiation, but what of the collateral? what is it’s purpose? If one fail to keep up to their responsibilities then collateral will be seize plain and simple.
if they do not want to have their names published, they should at least make contact with the bank and try to work something out. the bank has given them the opportunity to do so before going to the extreme and publishing their names. those who ignore this opportunity to work out a deal to remedy the situation DESERVE to have their names published. it means they DO NOT CARE!!! u got the loan, pay up!!!
great move French Man.
Now you targettting the poor parents who put up security after you take away the Jobs:
91 lost at colgate palmolive
make civil servants take a pay cut and refuse to give it back while you and your boys get massive pay hikes…so they cant pay de loans.
Giving away every project to your fellow french and EU contractors so de $ will not stay in local contractors hands…?
U Destroy de Agriculture? so you can take and give away their land
…..
Set free your French fishermen so they can continue harrassing da fishers?//
you too wicked
This has to be one of the most ignorant statements that I have read to date on DNO. Is it the Pms’ fault that these persons have not repaid their loans? Some of them knowing that their parents put up all they have in order to cosign said loans, and now that they have gotten their degrees, they have somehow magically forgotten how they got to where they are.
It is crude and unbecomming. How do they expect the bank to afford loans to other young persons wishing to further their education, when those befor them are refusing to repay theirs?
May I inform you that the money is that of the shareholders and persons with accounts at the bank. If you took the money and signed the contract, then by law you are bound to pay it back. It’s a SHAME that the parents and co-signers are the ones who now have to be harrassed by the bank and under threat of loosing what little they have, while some of these people are living the high life all over the world.
This is not a PM or a political issue. Some of us as Dominicans are to biased. The elections are over, get over yourselves and pay the bank back its’ money!
Are not All citizens of communist states are agents of the state?
The VAT from these chinese busnesses which are not private sector but state sponsored invasion and take over of commerce should pay the loans since they are given the employment
well when People support the invasion by running by chinese to buy cheap products what the hell do you expect? without business they can’t succeed.
Tell them country people stop go by chinese lol
It still surprises me everytime, but I don’t know y. U people are the ones who bring down the country with ur stupidity.
Can someone please y some are talking about marigot, night landing, land purchase, colas workers and french passports??? Y politics nonsense have to come in that….the man talkin bout people who not paying loans that depriving others of doing sumthin with themselves later on and allu talking all that shit! I hope allu doh have children that will need help. Selfish, ignorant asses
stupeeessssssssssss , you too should realize other people reading your comments, so stop using thsoe words on the site!
Same applies to you and your “stupesssssss” lol /facepalm
I would shake ur big toe eh… except for the cursing part. Very selfish and irresponsible. I am however not surprised that some of us have made this into a political issue. Publish their names SELF!!!!!
Everything will be political, because this is how Dominica have become .remember this is the government that say workers send to many students to study. Most of our brightest had to run away because they could not find jobs in the country. They were frustrated and totally played out by the system. Now this is not a reason for not paying back. But you will understand to some of them the system has failed them and they really don’t care.
skerritt … don’t blame the yout when you sending home their parent and even if they would come back to Dominica where is the job so that they can work and pay thier loan; skeritt you are the one who started it so finish it. You helping every body so help the yout dem remember thier mothers and thier fathers voted for the next level … WHO HIT YOU YOU CRYING
… i simply wanted to know if collateral was used or not. idon’t think aid bank have a probelem. i think the only persons in hot water are the parents who signed the collateral.
like the bank will give out loans kowing that they won’t be able to get back theire money one wayor the othr.
collateral doesn’t help
1) when the bank has sell property at a discount, or cannot even sell the property
2) the human loss
Of course they take collateral but which is better? Taking the parent’s house and land or asking the working professional to pay up? I think it’s great that the Bank prefers NOT to put the parents and grandparents on the street. Pay up!!!!
…—The Bin bobol money, $450,000.000, – pay up; $250,000.00 Fertilizer money – Pay up, The Land Tranfer Tax – Pay up; … Mr. Pm nothing to be regretable about– You have perfected NONE PAY BACK policy —-Be an example so the future children will know to do the RIGHT thing.
To all the people bashing the students who have not paid, there should be a compromise.! They should meet with the aid bank and try to reach an amicable solution.
No one is talking about all the friends that the PM has gotten scholarships though!! Remember nothing is free!
PM – why you and Hon. Ambrose George, have the people of Marigot in that? You were the one who messed things up with the DLP in Marigot when you pushed Baptist on Marigot. WHY? The people do not want him so take him out, he is not a servant, we do not want that man who think that the people must go to him and he should not go to them. Get rid of him NOW!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! In life it is imperative that we remain truthful to the people always. Why don’t you talk to Sen. Baptist? Can you propose or suggest a way out of this political grid in Marigot? It is only fair if you guys who put the people in that try to understand what is happening. This is not a popularity contest; the reality is that Mr. Baptist got the opportunity to serve the constituency of Marigot. To be paid by the people’s purse and so everyone and every bonafide Dominican have a right to question him on what level of representation he is making for the constituency as a Senator that was pushed on the people. So please STOP sending cheap shots at Mr. Tyson – the constituency association is in full agreement with Tyson’s representation
I don’t understand! Loans? AID Bank? Marigot?
Pure Ignorance!
With what currency will they pay? Hey them French passports so they will be eligible for work since your allegiance is to give all the major projects, quarries, to your fellow french man while laying off the Dominican colas workers, quarry managers …
Excellent strategy for distracting dominicans from the yet anothe … project you just signed to your fellow french man while laying off the Dominican colas workers.
…. WHAT regret you have mR PM? … YOu BARE FACE and HYPOCRIT all day all night … The poor people are suffering and their children you will make suffer more …remember NIGHT LANDING coming soon and we DONT HAVE FLASH LIGHT – DOMLEC take their lights AGAIN!!! …
I fail to see on what ground the AID Bank is going to advertise students and not violate the banking Act. The only way that can do this is but out an AD asking for the persons to contact them. However, the open letter inicates that they will advertise your infromation and embrass you. That same letter can however be used to sue them indicating that the objective was to lower the public impression of them . And as a professional that can be argued in court it will hurt your professional development. It can also be proven by the letter that they violated the banking act using this letter. No one should knwo that I have a loan with AID Bank. hmm sounds like someone will own AID bank soon if they do not rethink this strategy.
Well actually that’s y they are sending the open letter first. Yes people do not have to know who has a taken loan there, but remember that’s what AID Bank mainly does. So under certain circumstances within their rights they will be able to publish the names.
Actually hmm ! They are withing no rights publish the names. They are guided by the banking Act, which is very clear about disclosure. Had they not done the open letter, contacted the people directly, then publish the names indicatiing that they wanted these people to contact that then one could argue it is for other reasons like their tax forms etc . However, publishing this letter serves as reason for malicious intent to expose them. That is a violation of the banking Act. let them Publish my name. I have saved this letter and would love to own that building. I think I will paint it purple for victory after it is warded to me.
The only reason they would publish your name is if you owing….and u would be well mordara to come on here gloating like that if you know you are a delinquet borrower, that is wickedness to the max. If you are one of the deliquents and you can put up a comment like that I can truly say it is people like you so that in co with devil, to steal, to kill and to destroy…… If you owing the bank, pay up….nobody force you to take out the loan, right now you even want to be wrong and strong, when all you finish say is the governement that have de country so.
Irie ! shut your nasty smelling mouth ! Go and brush your teeth. You know de situation you want to talk. The bank is known for changing loan terms on people and even selling their assets for half the value then still saying you owing them the difference. Well Let them publish my name. It will be de last loan you take there because I am not going to pay and I will own de bank if they publish my name.
I would love to see anyone file a lawsuit against AID Bank. First off where on earth will any student who owes the bank get the money to pay legal fees? in the end they will just loose out more than they already have. Taking legal action can also instigate the Bank taking action by seizure of whatever it is they used as collateral to secure those loans.
Just pay off the damn Loans with the Interest you AGREED to pay back to the bank and you won’t have a problem.
You all should’ve thought about the possible consequences before applying for the loans. Nothing comes without a price, deal with it.
Oreally?….That’s nonesense !
What you are saying here Sir,is utter nonesense!.People’s situation and circumstances do change due to no fault of their own in most cases…hence flexibility…You are thinking to base and shallow.
I am quite sure Sir,that you do not know what the future holds for you, or what position you may find yourself in. So you should be a bit more sensitive towards people’s plight and the dificulties that they find themselves in. There are no Super Humans down here,it’s only us,and sometimes we blow it.
Thank you,…and….Peace Profound!!!!!!!
Wow!….finally,a smart comment.Let me read on. Is there more to follow?..Let’s see.
I am refering to Politrics……
My mouth neither nasty nor smelling….I not owing bank kamem…you doh have your lapeau boda but you talking, when they publish you name your damn voler i want to see what you will do, de money you plan to use to sue, pay it on your loan. Sakway voler taking bank money and refuse to pay it back….they good to sell you your panty or your canson to get back their money vieux voler…..if u know u owing shut your damn mouth, they change terms on you? Sounds contrived to me.Excuses excuses. I would hate to think an educated person have such audacity… it is one thing to run into financial difficulties but you so brazen, and spiteful carrying on here about suing? Very idle and malicious of you, you should damn well know better! All now so you should be quietly making your way to the bank to negotiate settlement, you on DNO giving maypwi and talking about sue….study me I am enrolled in a masters programme on a full scholarship, i did my bachelors on full scholarship and the loans I took in my lifetime, I work hard to payed them off… its about honour and honesty, you render on ceasar what belongs to ceasar because nobody forced you to affix your signature…….take that put in your pipe and smoke it, and while you doing that get a job, you sound very unemployed and idle, hiding behind the banking act, laughable! when they come for you your ass will end up in grotto. For de last time tief…pay up!
politrics de delinquent….yes you I talking to……..pay those people their money….shame on you
Irie,you made your point,but did you have to stoop to that level in doing so?..c’mon. To you and that other person,Can you guys excercise restraint and try to uplift each other instead of the name calling,and insults. The situation is bad enough as it is……..Let’s get away from all this petty talk and behavior ,and be a little more sensitive towards each others plight and circumstances.Please, enough with the lambasting……It’s not good for your People, and it’s not good for your Country.
…….One aim,one mind,one destiny.
Thank you,
and Peace Profound!!!!!!!!
DEliquent taxes on land purchases did/would not have hurt the tresury Sector mR.PM ,had Matt & Linton notbrought it to light?Guilty must pay right You hurried up and paid stating it was your lawyer’s blunder.Had it not brought to light would’n’t have been a similar situation Mr P.M.The students despite having to pay,even if employed do not receive %’s from selling Da …So you better shut… up.Those without sin only should talk MR.PM. You are … hence unfit to touch such topics.
If mr.skerrit was interested in the education of his people he would take alba money and pay off the loans of the people…
BETTER HE SHUT UP … YOU SHUT UP YOUR DAMN IDIOT WHAT HE IS SAYING MAKES ALOT OF … ENSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
well said
Is this really your comment?. I am not a supporter of labour party but by God…. Can you have a sensible conversation. I have a student loan at AID Bank which is killing me because it is like a mortgage. I pay my loan. Others should pay theres. Those students are just wicked. when they don’t pay their parents. grandparents, family and friends who took the risk to stand security for them end up loosing their properties. That is just wrong
i agree with u 100% (…)
AID BANK dont be afraid to put those dead beat on the internet some of them in the USA playing big shot I cant wait publicized them SHAMEFUL
Thanks a lot, some people can be so selfish. Hope at least the bank recovers it’s capital.
i agree with the pm. and is not only students with loan,, also those who take loans from the bank for houses, vehicles, land, businesses etc….. alot of dominicans who migrated overseas leave big debt behind and those in the country are paying the price.
results of unpaid debt are:
lost of job
further education opportunities
increase in tax & duties
increase in crime & violence
just to name a few…..
is time the bank take serious action against those people
was’t collateral used? in other words some parents are at risk of loosing their house and land.
alas poor parents.
Way to go Mr. PM.. but i’ll also like to ask you to please ask the AID bank to allow persons to pay more than they are required to monthly…..