PM calls for promised tablets to be used for educational purposes

IPad-miniDominica’s leader has said that it is his hope that when the promised tablets have been finally delivered to all students, they will be used for educational purposes.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the remarks on State owned DBS radio recently.

“So many of the children asking for tablets,” Skerrit said. “When I give it to you, I hope is for your learning and you are not going to play with it as a toy and have it under your arm under a coconut tree internet surfing and so forth.”

The tablets stemmed from a general election vow that the Prime Minister made to have 7,500 tablets for school children to be delivered to them since January of this year.

In March, Education Minister responded to media questions about the delay by saying , and he responded that the process for delivery is well underway.

This is what he said: As it relates to the tablets, we made a promise to the Dominican public that we would deliver tablets to first of all the secondary and college students,” Saint Jean said. “The process is well underway and in time the tablets will be delivered to every secondary school student and every student of the Dominica State College (DSC). The promise was that it would happen this year and it will happen this year.”

At a Dominica Labour Party rally Skerrit said he his party had “secured a commitment for the purchase of 7,500 tablets for our school children,” he said to thunderous applause. “That is the tablet our children will be receiving that our children will receiving come January 2015 …”

In January the Minister for Information, Science, Telecommunication and Technology, Kelver Darroux said that the “proper mechanism” was being discussed to have them delivered.

He stated that these tablets will be given to all secondary and college students on island but did not state a specific time frame.

The promise of the tablets has been the subject of numerous jokes on social media, while others have dismissed it as just a political gimmick.

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43 Comments

  1. Vex
    June 9, 2015

    We did not ask you for tablets. We waiting since January.

  2. Pas la!
    June 9, 2015

    The children did not ask for tablets. You open you mouth and promised it to them, so deliver… not that I think its a responsible thing to just give tablets to thousands of primary school children. HUGE DISTRACTION!!

  3. June 9, 2015

    The tablets ARE coming!!! The Supreme Leader, my Blessed Prime Minister WILL deliver on his promise and for once and for all quiet the critics. And yes, He expects these tablets to be used for education not for “YOUTUBE”, “INSTAGRAM”, “TWITTER” and “FACEBOOK”! And as far as I’m concerned, they should be given to the children of Loyal Labourites FIRST!!! These people want to castigate our Most Holy Supreme Leader and still want tablets. The audacity, the gall, it’s repulsive!!!!

  4. Bee
    June 9, 2015

    Wait nuh… all you still waiting for tablets man? LOL…. a promise is really a comfort to a fool.

  5. Gorillaz
    June 9, 2015

    The children didn’t ask for tablets , you promise to give it to them and so they waiting on you to deliver it to them like children . Your word is your oath , keep it . Upcoming 2020 election will be interesting .

    • Moine Meme
      June 9, 2015

      what you mean 2020? you mean we have to take 5 more years of this?

  6. ATKINSON
    June 9, 2015

    If the young people/students get those tablets, they will spend the majority of their the surfing facebook,twitter,games and yes porn sites

  7. June 9, 2015

    “So many of the children asking for tablets,” Skerrit said. Mr PM , point of correction the children were promised during your campaign that you’d be making available 7500 tablets by January 2015 . So children ,they’re enquiring about it now , due to your promise . Mr PM , note well that they will be apart of the electorate at the upcoming general elections 2020 .

    I’ll be listening and watching

  8. June 8, 2015

    “So many of the children asking for tablets,” Skerrit said. Mr . PM a point of correction , the kids weren’t the ones who requested any tablets from you , it was you who stood up on platforms during your campaigns and as part of your strategy said that you have secured some 7500 tablets , which you will make available to college and high students as of January 2015 . Mr PM , children will be children , when they see time passes they will ask and you dare not break your promise because , children never forget and take note they will form part of the upcoming general elections 2020 .

    Mwen ka garde , mwen ka kutay .

  9. Anthony Ismael
    June 8, 2015

    Skerrit must be handing out “Sticky Tablet.” When you start to play with it, your hands become sticky from the burned sugar. We bought quite a bit during recess and we used to hide and eat it during class time. Those days were fun. :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P

  10. Shaka zulu
    June 8, 2015

    Ok we recently had supplementary budget estimates and no money was put aside for tablets. The pm made promise during election so it could not have been on budget submitted last summer. Let us assume 1 tablet is US 100. Then 7500 tablets would be US 750,000 or ec $2,002,500. I am not adding cost of shipping distribution, software updates etc. Now we hear government is making arrangements to purchase. Is that not recklessly using country’s finances. Why do we allow this guy to keep doing this and irresponsibly dragging the country down the gutters. Where is the accountability. The pm is over and over again displaying his impulsive and irrational behavior. How long will it take for you guys to realize you guys are runner by a coocoo. This is amazing.

  11. June 8, 2015

    Mr . PM , point of correction the children didn’t ask for any tablets , it was you who stood on platform in St Joe and said you will give 7500 tablets by January of 2015 . You even had kelver holding a tablet in the air that night on platform . You said you will as a promise made and so they took your word for it . Why lie to the kids Mr . PM . Now you saying is they that asked for it . Sad , but true they will form part of the electorates next election . Kids never forget and I know they won’t ever .

  12. Jayson
    June 8, 2015

    I can bet my bottom dollar that all tablets will be pre-installed with spyware and when that is publicly revealed , they’ll say it was a security measure against theft, or some crap like that.

    Some entity is soon going to have ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ in almost every home in Dominica.

  13. sailsbury farmer
    June 8, 2015

    Where is your self respect why do you keep taking things from strangers tell Skerritt you will go and work snd buy your children what they need 7.500 proffesional beggers when are you going to do for self. So now you want to blame Skerritt blame your selves. To many Lazy Drunkards in the land always waiting forsome one to save them.

  14. sailsbury farmer
    June 8, 2015

    When I say export Dominicans to Africa I mean when they will be Educated by us the surplus we have we dont need should go to Africa which id the fastest growing economies in the world e e need to be there to help them build and make money . Every Race on the planet is in Africa making Billions. Why dont Dominicans understand what I am saying why do we think so small if we are going to work for the white boys why not go to the mother land and own our own company in oil still Diamond glass. Please think global. I bet you the shoes you have in your feet comes from China. What do you have in your house was made in Dominica you drink water fro Trinidad think big

  15. Lang Mama
    June 8, 2015

    Somebody give this fool couple books to read do he can sound intelligent “and so forth”.
    Here is a challenge to thee “and so forth idiot” if he avoid the phrase “and so forth” during any unscripted public conversat ion or communication I will personally provide 10 passport customers no commission like thee cricket people, Likeee,Dun Dun,Bonnie, child mother, Holy communion giving fornicator

  16. Ex Da Law ms
    June 8, 2015

    Why not set up a computer lab in every school instead.They can also learn to repair them and in the process learn a skill.Who would be responsible for stolen ,lost or damaged tablets?Also, having a lab would make it easier to see how the computers are used.Out there who knows?

  17. Ehhhhhh????
    June 8, 2015

    “So many of the children asking for tablets,” Skerrit said.
    :?: :?: When I give it to you :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: , I hope is for your learning and you are not going to play with it as a toy and have it under your arm under a coconut tree internet surfing and so forth.”

  18. grell
    June 8, 2015

    Bull crap Skerrit,stop fooling the poor people,too sad man your day will come.

  19. Junny
    June 8, 2015

    Skerrit should not offer ungrateful Dominicans any tablets. And I hope it is kept in the school and the teacher is accountable for each one because most of these children have tablets at their home. why should a child be given a tablet when that child already has a tablet at his/her home?

  20. Booooya
    June 8, 2015

    dem boy ya mek me shame to be Dominican.

  21. Tjebe fort
    June 8, 2015

    Is sleeping tablets he will give them to keep them in slumber while he and his karants sell our country from underneath us.

  22. JoJo
    June 8, 2015

    Roosevelt, a promise costs nothing and yet our people falling for that all the time. You are a very smooth talker, when you don’t let your temper take over, I must give you that. But promises got many girls pregnant and are the stuff rubber cheques are made off. Sorry Roosevelt, but I have up believing you a long time ago. I have nothing against the labour party, not at all but I believe you bamboozled them also and today I go as far as to say that you are bad for your own party.

  23. anonymous2
    June 8, 2015

    The PM knows the answer to his question.

  24. Gabby
    June 8, 2015

    Yes, Skerro…and maybe after you ‘deliver’ the tablets (no doubt from China, or perhaps Morocco, coming pre-packaged with a Vote Labour App) you can also deliver some clarity to the Dominican public about the true nature of your dealings with other nations, passport fraud–the usual laundry list of political corruption. Perhaps we can even look it up on the tablets!

  25. Moin meme
    June 7, 2015

    What a load of stupid crap

  26. jaun
    June 7, 2015

    coconut tablet under the coconut tree

  27. John Paul
    June 7, 2015

    DNO you should have posted that famous picture of Kelver Darroux holding up that famous tablet with His red outfit on LOL

  28. r charles
    June 7, 2015

    That is another election Bribe another example of voti mg laws being broken lawyer remmember that one

  29. AlkaKiLa
    June 7, 2015

    They said in January it will be delivered right? Well, I left high school this year and yet not one I have seen. And before I left, my principal said that the tablets will be belonging to the school and not “US” the students of secondary school and college….. That’s not fair…. If it’s for the students, why should the school keep them huh??? :-| :-| :-| :-| :-|

    • dea
      June 8, 2015

      it is not supposed to stay with the school,she said that because u left school so obviously it will stay with the school cause u are no longer at school so if u go to college then u will get one there

    • original hold dem
      June 8, 2015

      a promise is a comfort to a fool.

  30. against corruption
    June 7, 2015

    an yet he did not bribe anyone during the elections. the country is filled with idiots.

  31. Doc. Love
    June 7, 2015

    When I give it to you, ( the tablets). I wonder what kind of tablets he was talking about. I can understand during the general elections, the man threw a few lies here and their, it was election time. Man was afraid he lost, because he knew, had he lost, it would have been jail time, I can understand he being frightened. General election long gone , the man is still fooling the young people. The economy is rock bottom, no jobs, people hungry, foreigners are robbed like rain, the people still love their PM, does the man really believe the people of Dominica are going to overthrow the government because he lied about tables. Maybe, other forces might try a thing, because of all the pass ports that are being sold in the middle east and the rest of the world. Garson, you are safe, you don’t need to lie anymore. The next general elections are due in five years.

    • Gabby
      June 8, 2015

      Candy tablet the man was talking about…the kind you can buy during recess from a vendor…Skerro fulfill his promise because d/a full of tablet…next is coconut cheese

  32. sailsbury farmer
    June 7, 2015

    When a people are driven and smart Governments are also driven and smart. Skerritt right now is driven things are working faster now. So you the people manufacture plant sell stones and water to pay taxes to get what you need not what uou want, I hope you will stop drinking and begging. On on the right track . As your kids to study the right things in college.

  33. sailsbury farmer
    June 7, 2015

    Are they going to be responsible if they loose it parents should pay for it. Register all with the police if sny body steals it they go to jail. Every computer have a different number. Can our police do that easy please do it . Any thing we get or buy does not last no maintanence that must stop. Who is in charge to make sure every thing in the country is maintained. The prime minister must not beg and promise any body any thing. We have to win our selves generation after generation on that dope. When are we going to do any thing for our selves. Wr are broke we have no money because we produced O . Every thing our children sends us from over seas go to the Cubans in Miami buying rotton chicken and cheap chinese goods. The Haitian have to feed us now thats what is sad. We have a bunch of Drunkards and Dope heads. We cannot move forward that way, we have no energy to think its easy for red to fight blue

  34. sailsbury farmer
    June 7, 2015

    Tell the p.m. if you give them the Lap Top with the British system of Education its a wast of time. They still will not be able to manage a 30 room motel in portsmouth. When you send them to Grambling state they are coming back worst. They study Sociology and Economics that does not produce a car. Make the Dominica state college 4 yr college change the British model teach our kids to build cars, produce every thing we need, build bridges, roads, Hospitals, package all our foods, grow chicks, sell our water and rocks. The rest of the caribean will follow us. Own more private Banks, private electric companys. If we are not doing that now we have a bad British Education. We tell people to go and study but we think they know what they are doing. To many Lawyers doing nothing we need more factory owners. We need more Chefs. We need to export Dominicans to Africa like the indians do. We must wake up and stop praying and begging other people. The only way will get respect do it for self

    • Junny
      June 8, 2015

      But wait…you sounded normal until you got to this point

      “We need to export Dominicans to Africa like the indians do. ”

      Now I’m confused!

  35. too late
    June 7, 2015

    So many of the children asking for tablets,” Skerrit said. “When I give it to you, I hope is for your learning and you are not going to play with it as a toy and have it under your arm under a coconut tree internet surfing and so forth.”

    Roosvelt is it you giving the tablets? is it your money or is it the government of Dominica? is the ministry of education responsible for such initiative or is it king roosvelt? And can somebody please help this man with his grammar, expressions, vocabulary, terminologies, phrases and so on? Mr lennox Linton do you mind helping this PM with this foolishness about under coconut tree and dem fellas and so?

  36. Mamizoo
    June 7, 2015

    Unbelievable that on 2015 that is the kind of leadership that Dominicans consider to be ideal.” I hope when I give it to you ” it is not even thee “I” and not the government arrogance but the fact that he is now chastising or even sort of threatening the students. Although there were no direct threats it is fair to assume that if the kids decide before hand that they will surf the net “under coconut trees”then the tablet deal is off.
    Well if there was a plan in place to properly and effectively manage a national educational program one would assume the plan would insure that there shall be no coconut tree surfing. But it is thee kind of leadership that the people have accepted as normal.

  37. Coconut Cheese
    June 7, 2015

    I thought they were promised to children. The elementary school children will benefit greatly from these tablets. Secondary and DSC students need lap-tops not tablets.

    2014-2015 Dec-Jan-Feb-Mar-Apr-May-Jun, when they are delivered…….July-Aug-Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec…if they are delivered!

    2016—-2018 Tablets here December 2018 together with more ply wood, galvanise and stove. New Kid make sure you get yours okay!

  38. really
    June 7, 2015

    Did you consider the possibility of them using it under coconut trees when or before you promised it to them?

    In haste and desperation for votes you promised (ALL SECONDARY AND COLLEGE – and again in the Kalinago territory – you promised – EVERY KALINAGO CHILD a tablet). Had you considered or planned to use the resources in the most meaningful way and in a manner which would yield the most results – you would have sat with the ministry of education and ensured that ever school has an equipped computer lab which the students would be able to access easily – mostly in the presence of a teacher to prevent them from using them computers/tablets or whatever else for non-educational matters.

    Anyway – fulfill you election promise, while I genuinely hope that the children who are fortunate enough to have one or receive on will see the importance of technology in education and utilise it – you and I both know they going to be crushing candy or you-twit-face ( Youtube, twitter or…

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