Twelve more Dominican students were awarded scholarships to pursue studies in Cuban Universities.
They are Shanice Lazare, Shanice Louis, Phylicia Laronde, Glenny Jacque, Stacia Austrie, Nala Thomas, Kaele Lirisa Benjamin, Cheri-Ann Wilkins, Stacelen Ambrose, Dylan Pierre, Tad Henderson and Dr. Talma Alexander- Henry.
Dr. Henry who graduated from Cuba in 2007, after completing her degree in general medicine, will be pursuing studies in Gastroenterology.
The other students will specialize in various fields including; General Medicine, Civil Engineering, Radiography and Physical Therapy.
The scholarships were made possible by the Cuban Government and are part of a scholarship program that Cuban has with CARICOM countries.
Ambassador of Cuba to Dominica, His Excellency Juan Carlos Frometa de la Rosa at a farewell ceremony for the students, held at the Cuban Embassy at Morne Daniel on Friday, encouraged them to embrace the opportunity and use it to build Dominica.
“Take this opportunity and come back to build back Dominica,” he said. “Dominica needs you because you are the future of Dominica… this is a privilege.”
According to him, despite the conflict with the United States and Cuba’s economic problems, the country is still making an effort to provide scholarships.
“As you know for a number of years we have had a conflict with the United States, so for that reason we have some economic problems,” he explained.
“Despite this, we are making a big effort in order to provide these scholarships to Caribbean countries.”
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Marcella Powell said the gesture is a result of the sustained partnership between the government of Dominica and the Government of Cuba over the past years.
“During this period the Commonwealth of Dominica has benefited both in terms of technical assistance and in the development of our human resource capacity,” she said. “We have maintained a strong belief that the economic development of our country is directly linked to the degree of investment in our human resource capacity.”
She thanked the government of Cuba for manifesting its love for Dominica in a tangible way, noting that the government of Dominica will do all in its power to continue to foster, even deeper relationships with the Government of Cuba, thus strengthening the solid bonds, “which we have managed to forge over the years.”
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Helen Royer said the partnership Cuba has with Dominica is significant in many ways.
“One of the things is that it is very strategic because it is part of our ongoing programmes in the Ministry of Health,” she stated. “It’s not something that we just chose people, we had these priorities and every now and then when this scholarship comes we are always ready.”
Royer is confident that the students selected “are the best.”
“We do not just send students to student, we look at the appraisals, we look at their whole personality…so I am very confident that those that we have selected, they are going to make us proud and make Cuba proud,” she noted.
She wished the students well and hope that the relationship with Cuba will continue.
Last year 13 students from Dominica left for Cuba to pursue higher education.
Congratulations to the Students and also to the Gov’t of Cuba for continuing to support many less fortunate islands like Dominica to develop their Human Resource..I only pray that the gov’t strive to keep trained human resources on island..
They are terribly trivial in incentivizing young professionals to remain on island..many Cuban trained professionals are gone and rendering their services elsewhere to the benefit of other countries..time to take stock ’cause all this training will be in vain..
Still, good luck to all..take this thing very seriously..you’re out to represent self and country..
Any scholarships for ANY area of agriculture. Just asking???
where they going and practice agriculture…
The comments that the Doctor should pay for herself to specialize just shows people’s ignorance. People have been getting scholarships to specialize in Cuba for years. Dominica is not the only island where this happens. ALso..only peole who are ALREADY doctors can specialize..so who should get the scholarship? People in the states do not pay to specialize either…instead they are paid a salary. Please get informed before posting ignorant comments.
More scholarships in general medicine when we do not seem to have enough posts to absorb such people on their return? Surely, we have other areas that are of greater priority, if we are indeed looking at priority areas for Dominica. The specializations are great though, I must quickly add. Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients. Best wishes to you!!!!
These students and their parents are all Skerrit’s supporters. I wish them well but that is not how things should be done. Nothing lasts forever
Well observed!
Congratulations to all of you! Do not get distracted by insignificancies, remain focused, and be the best student that you can be. In all areas, but especially for those of you going into Medicine, please do not underestimate the importance of the basic courses, because that is the foundation on which you are going to build!
Make yourself proud! Show appreciation for the opportunities that are being presented to you.
Best of luck!
My first thought was ”Who is giving these Dominican young people scholarships to study in Cuba…
Then I read ”…made possible by the Cuban Government…”
These students were chosen from the brightest and the best. I congratulate them because I know they worked hard, and they deserve the scholarships.
As Juan Carlos Frometa de la Rosa, Cuban Ambassador to Dominica has reminded us, Cuba has risen above its own challenges to be able to give out these scholarships. The thanks expressed to the Cuban Government is certainly appropriate.
On the other hand you are dealing here with a communist government. Dominicans are not to be blamed if they think they see a red flag or two. We wonder if the thinking of these young people along political lines will be any different when they return after three or four years of study in a Cuban (communist) university? Noted that the Cuban Ambassador has encouraged them to return to Dominica.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
While I’m certainly no fan of communism, a cousin studied there and returned ideologically unchanged. If anything, seeing the widespread poverty there reinforces scepticism about top-down economic systems.
Thanks Steve.
You have made a good point.
Come to think of it the poverty they see may well off set any communistic influence they would encounter.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist
Congratulations to you all. But be prepare to work and study hard. It is not play time and may not be like you are in Dominica. Remember your goal. Make the best of it all.
A THUNDEROUS THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF CUBA FOR THEIR SUPPORT OVER MANY YEARS,CONCIDERING THEIR DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CONDITION…I WAS ALSO GIVEN AN ORPORTUNITY BY MR PIERRE CHARLES ,BUT COULDN’T ACCEPT IT DUE TO MY GRANDMOTHER’S HEALTH …..SO GUYS MAKE GOOD OF IT….GOD BLESS CUBA
How are Cuban educated Dominicans contributing to nation building? These parasites get a Cuban scholarship and when they return to D/ca they expect to get a government job, draining an already depleted treasury. Magwa sah.
Instead of Cuba spending its little money on these students, it should instead spend it on feeding its people and repair its crumbling infrastructure. The cold war is over – no need to try to impress the Americans that you are self sufficient and well-off enough to buy the loyalty of its Caribbean neighbors.
these are the same parasites educating your children, treating them at the hospitals, serving you at the banks ect. Stop being ridiculous, anyone returning from years of study would love to find a job whether its with the government or the private sector. We are young educated people just trying to make a living. These agreements are not about impressing anyone, its about giving the young people a chance at higher education that some parents would not be able to afford. Think before you make such a stupid comment.
these are the same parasites educating your children, treating them at the hospitals, serving you at the banks among other things. Stop being ridiculous, anyone returning from years of study would love to find a job whether its with the government or the private sector. These agreements are not about impressing anyone, its about giving the young people a chance at higher education that some parents may otherwise not be able to afford. Think before you make such a stupid comment. Besides have you ever been to Cuba? Stop feeding of the gargage that they write about this lovely island. Viva la Revolucion cubana!!!
The communist revolution failed in Cuba just as it failed in Russia. Leaving God out and mistreating His people is a sure ticket to disaster.
When the iron curtain collapsed and the Soviet Union broke up in Russia the heads of the KGB, the Communist Party, and the Secret Police committed suicide the same day. One great church with a special devotion to “Jesus the Lamb of God” had been closed, and used for secular purposes. The Christians gained it back. They put up a big sign that read THE LAMB WON
The following Sunday the building was packed with the faithful. Obviously, they understood. No
advertising was necessary.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
Congrats .
A special thank you to the Cuban government for assisting these young D/cans to achieve their goal.
Congratulations to all of you. I visualize your excitement at having been chosen.
Since you were well chosen for the scholarship, there is no doubt you will be diligent and excel in your chosen field.
My best wishes to everyone. While there do take care of yourself. Keep focused and healthy.
God bless you, protect you and keep you safe.
Congratulations.. But, isn’t one of Dr. Benjamin’s children studying in Cuba under a government scholarship? One set of families alone that benefitting from these things. Glenny brother already studying under a government scholarship. Anyway not my business..People like me without surname will go to the bank, take our little student loan and try to develop ourselves.
Did u apply? Or are you blaming someone. Thought you would say I tried and did not get through. Go ahead and try.
youth is speaking the truth because it was said a university graduate in every house and I tell you they were not specific about what house…
should be a university graduate in every labar supporting house.
His son us studying medicine in Cuba and is nephew also
just an observation,trust me i wish them all well,but 90% women.ummm
what wrong with our men ……….. the ladies taking over
Giving scholarship to Dr Henry who can afford to send herself to school. What about some poor persons child who can’t afford it. Those people all for their self . . Give someone else a chance. You had yours. It look like SOME SHALL EAT..
Nice!! Lovely!!! The problem is leaving the well-equipped facilities of that island after graduation to come and work here in a hospital where there is no warm water to bathe and they inject you with rusty needles and the nurses slap and ill-treat you when no one is looking because they say that they aren’t getting paid enough. Who wants to work in an Iraq battlefield environment like that?
WHY don’t u THANK the government of Cuba? Your comment is not an encouragement to the students, why are most comments SO BITTER ; this is one of the reasons y this country is slipping slowly but surely .NEGATIVITY brings more negativity, YOU can send some needles from FLORIDA, that would help the patients,and GOD would BLESSSS U. Let us all b more responsible with our freedom of speech,because one can say something good ,and yet make it sound bad..Let;s try to speak with respect ,at least for the sake of the country, we can come to a common ground…people are reading these comments the world over and it’s NOT a pretty picture….It’s not an attact at u but an advice to us all ..SHALOM
why give one person 2 scholarship .dr henry
The Dr should pay for her studies in gastroenterology,unless the course starts at doctorate level….share the bread around…nothing personal doc u would b happy the other way round
All you never seem to get off that envious and jealousy spirit. She may be going to continue or even get better equipped. Ask or think before putting mouth in gear.
That’s great. Congrats to students and congrats to Cuba for this amazing opportunity.
Congratulations to all the students who were selected to go to Cuba to further their education. Best wishes to all of you.