A Ross University return to Dominica not likely this year

Will Ross University School of Medicine return to Dominica by May 2018 in order to recommence classes for its students?

That post-Hurricane Maria return was the expectation of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit when he addressed the matter last December.

The latest word from Ross appears to contradict the likelihood of that happening, however.

A statement from the University’s Dean and Chancellor William F. Owen Jr to colleagues says, “Although we have made some progress in restoring our campus in Dominica, there still remains significant work to complete. The severity and complexity of damage to our buildings on campus vary”.

The statement points to a list of six buildings that are currently being renovated over the next six months.

Following the passage of Hurricane Maria in September, Ross announced in a press release that 1,400 students, faculty, and staff planned to relocate temporarily to Knoxville, Tenn. to continue their program of study.

Prime Minister Skerrit has been banking on an early return to the Ross University Campus at Portsmouth sooner rather than later.

He pointed out back in December that the government hoped “to get Ross to be back in May 2018 … we are also helping the property owners, the Dominican citizens who own properties in Picard to rebuild. That is why we have extended the loan facility at the AID Bank to the property owners so that they could have their apartments fixed, they could be able to buy some new beds – those who need beds – appliances and so forth so that they can get that going in quick order.”

PM Skerrit estimated at the time that about 80 percent of the homes Ross University needs for student accommodation was available.

The situation does not only relate to housing, however, as Owen is explaining.

He says, after listing the buildings that must be repaired, that “Unfortunately, there were additional buildings that were well beyond repair and recently demolished to reestablish a safe campus. We will determine what impact the loss of these buildings have on campus operations and consult with experts to reassess the campus master plan”.

Dean Owen does anticipate a return to the Dominica campus, but gives no firm date:

“As we remain committed to restoring our campus, we are closely monitoring Dominica’s recovery and other macro concerns that affect the ability to maintain an operational campus on the island,” he concludes.

The Ross Official speaks of a “successful transition to our temporary locations in Knoxville, Tennessee and St. Kitts for the 2018 Winter Semester”.

Given that statement, it appears unlikely that Ross University School of Medicine will once again be fully operational in Dominica before 2019

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51 Comments

  1. Jimmy Williams
    July 7, 2018

    My company is working on the school right now. The school is scheduled to open again Dec 2018.

  2. June 18, 2018

    Dominica you have wasted 10 years of my life. Good luck! i’m out.

  3. Obvious Truth
    March 10, 2018

    You do not wish to believe it but the writing is on the wall. Ross never coming back to Dominica.
    Ross is a business and they have more reliable opportunities for profit elsewhere.
    Time to move on. Dominicans are a strong people. We must rebuilt and make better investment choices.
    No more putting all the eggs in one basket.

  4. Yahoudim
    March 9, 2018

    If Ross never comes back then we can open a branch of UWI in Dominica.

    • Malatete
      March 9, 2018

      The UWI has had a campus in Dominica since 1963.

  5. Yahoudim
    March 9, 2018

    Those of you blaming the Government should blame Maria.

  6. I am a Labourite
    March 9, 2018

    Having stayed out of Government for over 20 years (1980 – 2000) and 17 years after resuming power the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) has done very little to improve the economic wellbeing of the country. While they have done some mediocre work in the area of social development, they have FAILED in the area of economic development by
    1. Not investing more in agricultural production and exports
    2. Not investing in international airport development to increase visitor arrivals and export of certain products (In fact it is said they sold the airport development initiative of the United Workers Party government to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Unity Labour Party government lead by Prime Minister, Doctor the Honourable Ralph Gonzalves)
    3. Not investing in marina development to help increase yachting arrivals, yacht repairs and other yachting
    services
    4. Destroying the financial services sector including the Dominica Unit Trust Corporation, and now
    5. Ross University School of…

    • I am a Labourite
      March 9, 2018

      5. Ross University School of Medicine… A cloud of uncertainty lingers over its future as University, over economic life for Portsmouth in particular and Dominica in general.

      Let’s hope and pray that Ross returns for the sake of all those who have invested their monies in this investment initiative :( :( :(

    • Yahoudim
      March 9, 2018

      Argyle Airport in St. Vincent is a White Elephant for your information.

  7. Truth Be Told
    March 9, 2018

    “As we remain committed to restoring our campus, we are closely monitoring Dominica’s recovery and other macro concerns that affect the ability to maintain an operational campus on the island,” he concludes.

    The Ross Official speaks of a “successful transition to our temporary locations in Knoxville, Tennessee and St. Kitts for the 2018 Winter Semester”.

    Enough said! You have to be a real fool not to get this!

  8. prophet for a profit
    March 9, 2018

    hmm. it continues. what is the update on All Saints? We need to diversify our educational offers. Always said we need an agricultural university and a bio marine university.

    • Anonymous
      March 9, 2018

      For a much reduced population of fewer than 70’000.? Development he, but please be realistic.

      • prophet for a profit
        March 9, 2018

        The reality is that our population isnt their target market. With an influx of foreign students, our population will rise as the population in portsmouth did. there will be new markets and new opportunities for people here just like how Ross did for portsmouth. Just like how people in Roseau benefited from All saints. There will be a need for services which will allow locals as well as foreigners to invest. We should stop putting all our eggs in one basket and depending on one source of revenue per sector. We need more call centers, Clear Harbor cannot do it alone. or do you think our population cannot handle another call center also?

  9. the truth
    March 9, 2018

    we need an international airport :cry:

    • Toto
      March 9, 2018

      We have one.It is called Douglas Charles. Do you know who who Douglas Charles was? Fed up having to explain to foreigners there was no gentleman by that name.

      • JAUGERNAUT
        March 9, 2018

        Even canefield is an international airport. All and airport really needs to be international is customs and immigration. And since you cannot get on any plane and not land in another country, we really only have international flights!

      • Someone in the know
        March 9, 2018

        If you had one that was capable of handling larger aircraft (coming in from say, the United States) people would be more apt to travel to Dominica. As it is, most travel from the US takes 18-24 hours to get into DA. No one wants to waste two days of vacation just to get to and from their destination.

      • the truth
        March 10, 2018

        you mean the airport that taking sea salt every day.. liat might stop come here because all u will rotten them people planes. :lol:

  10. DOMINICA
    March 8, 2018

    Dear People
    we have concern and wants the Student back
    Let work together as one writer said Let put things in Place
    So the Student can returned to Dominica
    We want them back
    Its a good interest for Dominica

    Lets be positive and let ork tpgether to build Dominica
    we are all in it
    Whether we are abroad its our Home Land
    And we love Dominica

  11. RossGrad
    March 8, 2018

    Remember that Ross is a Dominican University. Every large move they make likely has to be approved by the Dominican Medical Board who authorizes Ross to operate. If the campus is not ready, they cannot return. If only 80% of housing is ready, they can’t return. Liat is only flying to Dominica two days per week and you have to overnight in Antigua. If they can’t get to DA in a timely manner, they can’t return. Ross will return, but it may take “all hands on deck” to make sure it is in the Summer. In the meantime, I’ll keep all the Picard landlords and business owners (including transport drivers) in my thoughts and prayers. I know many of them. I know this is a HUGE letdown for them and I know they and their families have got to be hurting. Stay strong! Some ideas: Rent out those apartments to tourists. Temporarily eliminate the tourist taxes.

    • Anonymous
      March 9, 2018

      Well, these landlords put all their eggs in one basket, driven by the thought of easy profit. If they have big mortgages to pay, so much the worse. On top of that thehave to refurbish and maintain. The banks don’t really want to foreclose on these buildings because they have little resale value. Who wants to buy them?
      Will Portsmouth turning a ghost town?

    • Me
      March 11, 2018

      And how do the tourists get here when we are already struggling with transport for students?

  12. Some eating, most dying
    March 8, 2018

    What else we have to lose before we kick them out? Do you all see a future in Dominica under this corrupt regime? Let’s be honest with ourselves folks; can we not see it’s not working? I mean under Skerrit we are under constant fear whether in hurricane season or dry season. We are not prospering no matter what we do! I mean all we reaping is curse and destruction no matter what we do and where we go. He built so called highways but they were destroyed in less than no time. He put solar lights but they were destroyed sooner than they were completed! He built stadium but to no avail; he relocated petete Savanne to Bellevue within a year every single house was destroyed! He built airport for night landing but alas it even a problem in the day and that’s one of the concerns of Ross, even if they didn’t say that. Gason whatever the righteous does will prosperous but that’s not so with the wicked as their works are blown away like chaff in the wind Psalm 1:4. That’s Dominica under…

  13. Sherlock holmes
    March 8, 2018

    I have a feeling Watson, that Ross is not returning to Dominica anymore.
    Hurricane season has level up., and Dominica will never be the same again…. it would be good if
    they return. ..let us watch and see…

    • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
      March 9, 2018

      You know although, I wish Roosevelt Skerrit everything bad!

      I truly would like Ross return to the country; they have been in Dominica for a number of years providing jobs for our people, small as their contribution may seem they have helped our economy.

      I prefer Ross contribution which is sustainable, rather than the sale of passport; diplomatic passports should not be on what our economy should based!

      • I am mine own
        April 8, 2018

        I wouldn’t say that Ross’ investment in DA has been small. They employed hundreds of individuals. More than a thousand students were paying oftentimes 500 US a month for rent. Groceries and restaurant prices were inflated. I would say that Ross profited Portsmouth and Picard nicely.

  14. My Opinion l, not urs
    March 8, 2018

    All I have to say is The Law of Attraction is true.
    The government hv 50 percent to play and we the next 50.
    Dominica can never move if we don’t stop the negative talking and thinking.
    Think about it, no time Dominica eyes development something bad happens, UWP out after 4 yrs, Roosie dead in less than 1yr and Piero, Miss Charles was a friend of the USA President.
    We are always on the road for development but we as a people love party politics to much so we aways wish for the opposing party to fail.
    In the end Dominica fails.

    • Some eating, most dying
      March 8, 2018

      What negative talking you talking about! To say you a person has a malignant cancer is negative? Unless we accept the reality and take aggressive steps to correct it, we can say all the positive things we want but that will change nothing. We have an evil government that didn’t come with God’s blessings and as a result, we paying. If you don’t believe me go ask Rosie and Pierro and they will tell you. Life is not about what we say as much as what we do. We can call bad good as much as we want and say positive things as much as we want but as long as we keep this evil administration in office we will lose everything, even our birds. I repeat, Roosevelt Skerrit did not come into office through God’s blessings and as a result, we will go nowhere good ask Tony because he knows and he told us so just that we hard headed and didn’t listen to him. But he knows and I know too because I was there. All I will say is because of the sin of Adam over 3000 years ago, the earth is under a curse

      • RandyX
        March 9, 2018

        Well spoken…!!

    • My little take
      March 8, 2018

      I respect your opinion but it makes no sense. If what we see happening in Dominica today is because of the negative things are few (minority) are saying, then why we not reaping the blessings of the positive things the majority are saying about Dominica? The majority saying ‘thank god for Skerrit’. The majority saying ” Dominica is blessed” in fact hours before Maria the majority said no need to stockpile water, food and other stuff because Maria was a weak storm, while the minority said, Maria is a catastrophic storm that would leave many in shock when they get up next day. Why didn’t the positivity of the majority not out do the negativity of the minority?

      • My Opinion l, not urs
        March 9, 2018

        How much of us are referring to the population as Dumbinicans, Dominica can never move foward, Skerret will finish with Dominica, etc… How much.
        And try not to be sarcastic and say the minority cause we all know how the government won the election, so don’t come and use what happened with Maria as an e.g cause thinking negative for decades will always over power thinking positive for couple days because of fear.
        See bitcoin for e.g we were going to be the first bitcoin country in the world, we became scared and criticized it then the plug was pulled, I would like someone to chk the value of bitcoin now and then, ok here is what it is worth now. 22,783.59 East Caribbean Dollar for 1 bitcoin.

    • Shameless
      March 8, 2018

      You have an opinion and others the same. However, you have spoken some kind of mumbo jumbo BS that makes it hard to comprehend what you are saying. Therefore, I am asking you point blank; Do you believe the current recovery is moving well enough that companies like Ross should immediately return (April 2018) or come into Dca now?

      Ask I asking.. 8)
      Assertive like hurricane Melissa! :twisted: :twisted:

  15. OLD ROSS PROF
    March 8, 2018

    As I have stated before. To keep their federal student loans, Ross must return to Dominica before June of 2019. This statement can be confirmed in the US Federal Register. Don’t expect it to happen before that.

    • Dominican
      March 8, 2018

      Don’ t you overlook the main factor in this I.e. the students? What if they, their parents, sponsors or guardians have no desire to see them return to Dominica? That would be very regrettable but also very understandable under the circumstances. So far I have not seen any government initiative to address any such concerns.

  16. Ibo France
    March 8, 2018

    Ross University owners and investors would make a decision in their best interest. I’m convinced that they would return to Dominica when the country is fully restored to normalcy and when all the necessary repairs to their buildings are completed. I think, Mr. Skerrit, was overly optimistic and very much unrealistic when he announced that Ross would resume business in May, 2018. For the good of the citizens and legal residents of the country, let’s all hope by 2019, Ross would be back bigger and better.

    • Shaka Zulu
      March 8, 2018

      His utterrances just showed you how out of touch he is. He is so used to telling lies and deception to fool the public any chance he gets. 1) why would the PM say may 2018 if he did not have the facts. This is what skerrit have been doing for 14 years. He says things on spur of moment to give an impression and to mislead people. Then when he is in a bind stays quiet and have tony astaphans come spew crap to confuse the public. Once the big guard dog start barking facts get twisted and the public get in chaos. Two months later some diversion to change subject. 2.) He does mot know what it takes to motivate a population to work hard and be self ressilliant. Skerrit entire tenure has been about begging charith and laziness. The government shoild have done whatever it takes to get school and surrounding support back online because of all the supporting businesses it generates. Thats 90% of th north. They cannot manage a port what does Dominica really expect.

  17. marie-claire R Skerrit
    March 8, 2018

    This Government is messing it up for the people of Dominica. They are giving the people false hope. I’m glad Ross came out to made known so folks weren’t banking on there return per the wicked PM in May of 2018. I pray that these people running the country can have a heart and do the right thing for the people who are living in the island sack because these leaders are filling there pockets while the people are going without, Its an utter shame. Lord i pray

    • Dominican Passports
      March 8, 2018

      The dominican people messing it up for themselves, Dominicans need to learn a hard lesson, laborites in particular, let the country wheels fall off first before we fix it, I doh want them to be able to say nothing

      • marie-claire R Skerrit
        March 12, 2018

        your right because those same laborites that are hurting and feeling the impact will be the same ones time elections come there votes will be bought with an easy handout then back to the same thing.. I pray for the country sack these laborites that are being brainwashed and bought can make some sense about the current climate of the country for the future being

  18. As I see it
    March 8, 2018

    We losing everything under this cursed and ungodly Government. Even our villages we losing

  19. Daybyday
    March 8, 2018

    Portsmouth going to feel it hard. The a domino effect on the rest of the island

    • Dominican Passports
      March 8, 2018

      That’s possie problem :lol:

      • 305goon
        March 9, 2018

        Hater. A lot of you people jealous of possie so bad..

      • Sans cobin
        March 9, 2018

        when you think of a community that’s going to fall bad and the already hundreds of jobs loss then u have no love for country and are one of the few who just want to see it all burn. Hate it when people only think of themselves.
        So much business owners already started selling out property and migrating because they cant make ends meet. everyone going to feel it. we stand by and read idiotic comments like yours smdh!!

  20. Barbara Saunders
    March 8, 2018

    I do hope that Ross returns. For Dominica’s sake and that of the scores of Dominicans who have invested in homes for accommodation of students.

    I can only hope that they used the funds wisely when the going was good and paid their mortgages and other debts. Life can change devastatingly in the twinkling of an eye as it did for so many people after Maria.

  21. Shaka Zulu
    March 8, 2018

    I had the opportunity of visiting home in December January past and i am not surprised. I will not say much. The government of Dominica is a waste of time and has no idea what they are doing. If Dominicans know what is best they will get this clowns from office.

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      March 8, 2018

      Hope your time is not wasted where ever you claim you are.

      • Dominican Passports
        March 8, 2018

        Lol you always there kiddo :lol:

      • Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
        March 9, 2018

        Shut up fool, don’t you know “school leaving certificate” went out of style when the colonialists left the Caribbean.

        Don’t you know a school leaving certificate was given when one finished “Standard Seven” which is actually grade seven in elementary school! You are so dumb, and stupid but you are the one who is all over the place with you nasty fictitious name trying to insult people, you ole wench, you are old and out of style!

        Brouhaha!

        Asking me about School Leaving certificate?  Tell us what sort of degree you have and in what discipline, you can’t say because are an idiot who never saw inside of a Secondary School   if you did you would have know about the GCE, and the other other term used prior to GCE.

        So you see the F word you use on me proves you are a nobody, a nothing only a idiot looking for someone to notice you!

        In my world we talk about university and college degree! 

  22. Pedro
    March 8, 2018

    The thinking of Ross investors may very well be the thinking of other existing or potential investors and even the airlines connecting from San Juan for example may scale back or revise plans. At the end of the day it has to make business sense to them and the confidence of the people they serve (eg students and staff and families) is factored in, not to mention the overall state of the country including security. Unfortunately Dominica will suffer meanwhile. Its going to hard on business owners and landlords in the area and this will impact the economy.

    • anonymous2
      March 8, 2018

      Things are not the same for Ross U. as they were 10 yrs. ago when they were chartering private planes to bring students and faculty into and out of DA. Only time will tell if they ever re-establish themselves back in DA. I think that major changes may have to be made before they even seriously consider it.

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