UWP member displeased with PM’s plans for education

Lynthia Pacquette-Lewis

United Workers Party (UWP) candidate who contested the Grand Bay seat  in the 2009 general elections Lynthia Pacquette- Lewis, has openly criticized Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s plans for education coming from the 2010/2011 budget address.

At a public UWP meeting in Lagoon on Monday night, Pacquette-Lewis told supporters that one of her main disappointments was that there was no mention of an increase in scholarships and bursaries issued to students.

“I notice that the prime minister did not make mention of the increase in scholarships and bursaries for the grade six students in his budget address, I would really like to send a message to the honourable prime minister with all due respect so that he can reconsider including more scholarships and bursaries to the grade six students to take out the cries out there by the parents who are suffering financially and are still unable to meet certain commitments,” she stated.

She pointed out that when the UWP was in power there were marginal increases in the number of scholarships awarded to students, in addition to free text books.

“During the time of the United Workers Party I can clearly remember that hundreds of scholarships were awarded. During the time, secondary school students were also awarded free text books. My people, the economic situation was booming within that time, no doubt about it. I would really like the Labour Party administration to compete with us in this aspect,” the female politician said.

Pacquette-Lewis said that she sought clarification as to the prime minister’s plans for a $1.5 million increase in capital allocated for education in his budget presentation.

“In response to the prime minister 2010/2011 budget analysis I would like to point out the importance of the increase he made in his budget on education, which increased- as he said- by $1.5 million, according to the budget estimate as compared to last year’s $17.1 million,” she said

“My people I’m wondering what that increase is really for. He did not explain too much, but I hope he can consider the grade six children with more bursaries and scholarships,” she stated.

Pacquette-Lewis described the 2010/2011 budget as only “painting a picture of good things” but is really unattainable.

She called for the erection of Dominica’s first university as opposed to the expansion of the Dominica State College, which the prime minister mentioned as a plan under the new budget.

“My people, another concern for the young people at the grade six level is the Universal Education. A lot of students drop out of school, You wonder why. Many welcome the Universal (Secondary) Education but some still cry and wonder   why they did not section some students because some students are suffering among the very academic ones,” she added.

“Why they are afraid of the challenge and no one hears the cry? Honourable prime minister I’d like you revisit the Universal Education Program and look at the situation affecting the under privileged and the mentally challenged and academically challenged, and give them an opportunity-a fair one, to get something to suit them- whether  its a technical skill area to occupy them, so that tomorrow when they become fathers and mothers they can have something to call a career,” the Grand Bay woman stated.

According to the prime minister’s budget address, the Government of the People’s Republic of China will provide grant funds for the construction of a building to house the Newtown Primary School.

A loan facility in the amount of US$40 million has been contracted with the Export Import Bank of China of which an estimated US$15.0 million has been earmarked for rehabilitation and construction works at the Dominica State College, the prime minister said.

Construction work on both the projects will begin this year, Prime Minister Skerrit has said.

UWP members have described the $440.3 million budget as a “lazy-man budget.”

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13 Comments

  1. August 11, 2010

    You all wanted responses from the opposition team, when they oppose so many are upset. People understand the role of the opposition they are the watch dog of the nation. if it was the other way wrong the labor party must oppose the winning party. we sometimes forget the cry of other people and only think of ourselves first……..the lady has a democratic right to comment on the budget address, and whether you are supporting any party one must take time to understand the political trends which are impacting negatively on the nation. Whether the opposition state recommendations or not the prime minister usually ignores the recommendation of the opposition. If you understand the message the well informed young lady is bringing across she is asking for a better livelihood for the underprivileged parents. I f better opportunities are given the the unfortunate students who are most times neglected then the problems which present exist from the primary level usually affects the status of the students at the secondary level.

    also take note that most of the students who receive scholarships to study abroad don’t come back, why? One because they will not get an opportunity to apply the things they learn, and as a result there is a ‘brain drain” which affects development of in the sense of career and performance standards.

    When the ruling party receives constructive criticism supporters must understand this is one of the best ways to learn, by one mistakes. No one is perfect, so therefore no political party is perfect. n Politicians must be subjected to corrections rather than be too objective. Mr.Prime Minister listen carefully and take heed before the problems worsen and take time to educate your supporters.

  2. July 22, 2010

    found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later

  3. Ray
    July 21, 2010

    I suppose opposition will remain opposition, no mater who is in charge as leader. their job is not to mention any progress or good that is happening. they think we all are living somehwere outside of Dominica and so we will accept everything they say.

    talking about booming economy during UWP time. mrs.lewis was a public officer then. How much did we get in pay rise during those booming years. Was it 3% at the highest or 15%. Mrs. Lewis knows what she got.

  4. jean dominique
    July 21, 2010

    next time madam lewis ,think for yourself dont let no one put words in your mouth. by writing for u.how oftening u visit grandbay?,can we talk about the ccf porgram? who is incharge? and who have profit? ala suqua sack ou la van chebom.

  5. McCoy Tyner
    July 21, 2010

    They criticize and never offer an alternative. Can anyone here tell me what is this persons contribution to Education?

    What novel idea has she proposed that would assist Dominicans in getting a better education?

    Dominicans who leave to study abroad do well in their studies, with a very small amount who are either uninterested or distracted.

    Stop Opposing and start contributing.

  6. Anonymous
    July 21, 2010

    wat that woman is talking about? u can be disappointed in this government for everything not in education woman. this government has done more for education than any other government in the history of dominica, so if u doe have anything to say about this labour party government please get yourself informed.

  7. YES
    July 21, 2010

    You know what you are talking about.Remember you are from a community where Universal Secondary Education was first introduced, and you have seen the miserable failure of this project..But who tells you anyway that the govt bothers about anyone but their pockets..
    They are not willing to listen to those who are more visionary than them,because they want to maintain the status quo.The begging syndrome,the Red Clinic Syndrome so that they will perpetuate in power indifinitely.

  8. Domnichen en tere
    July 21, 2010

    I am disappointed in your response. You seem to forget the Transfer Grant. I thank the UWP for their initiative regarding the free text books, but if people aren’t taking care of them, some are not returning them while others are selling them should that scheme be continued? Because the economy was booming Government could give a lot of things. It is now collapsing so they have to exercise caution. You talk about competition, there is no contest. Have you anything to say about the increase in University scholarships?

    Government has done it’s share with the Universal Secondary Education, parents must now play their part if they do, the problem with the drop-out will be minimized additionally, the Education Officers MUST also play their part. Your input is just mere repetition and a jumble.

    Next time think before you speak or discuss what you intend to say with someone who can help you put it together. Congratulation son your personal achievement, but you input this time around has nothing to grade.

  9. texas
    July 21, 2010

    The member for the Granbay constituency may have the merit to voice her opinion about the budget address, however, there are no quick fixes to the ailing economy, it must also be understood that a true basic foundation for a great education must begin at the primary level first, with the involvement of both parents and teachers in their respective communities coming together to address posible issues. I currently live in a community where parents will be penalized if their children do not show up for school without their parents permission, which means that the role the parents play in their children education is critical. My point is, although it is the responsiblity of the authorities to build and create the infrastruture, to advance the educational careers of the next generation, it is up to the parents to invest their time,goodwill, guidance and their encouragement in their childrens’ future.
    And in some situations what we see is the contrary choices that the parents make, rather than taking that responsibillity seriously. That level of responsiblity begins at conception.

  10. local tiger
    July 21, 2010

    what a shameful face……i think u better get some work to do..

  11. drug free
    July 21, 2010

    the uwp hopefull for grand bay is not even aware of the five hundred dollars school transfer grant all students entering secondary school will recieve. . lets not forget the free transportation and the amount of moneys spent by this government at the BTC. the amount spent on students in universities all over the world,stop miss informing the nation sometimes i personally believe that some of u opposition people are causing more harm to d dominican people whom all u claim to love so dearly than a nuclear bomb would cause, thats the new day for democracy in dominica and the crowd in lagon on monday night clearly shows that

  12. July 21, 2010

    Hector let the dogs out.all of a sudden everybody barking.guess you see what you were missing.

  13. PANI scholarship pani VOTE......ehbeh zoni roro
    July 21, 2010

    UWP or not I must agree. It seems that the rest of Dominica is afraid to voice concerns over serious issues. Thank you UWP for representing the concerns for the thousands to afraid to fearful of victimization by the Labour Part Skerrit and his goons party to initiate discussions voicing what see go ongoing in our sweet country everyday.A lot of us nee dto look into these things as our representative Mrs Pacquette point out. I mean the scholarships that governmanet give is for their own ministers workers thier family and friends and thier children. what about the rest of us who need scholarship to improve our educational satanding,………….and to think som eof us were fooled by these power hungry vote hungry vowas vieux bagaye in that LABOUR PARTY………BUT DUN WORRH EH……NEXT ELECTION WE WAITING FOR THEMMMMMMMM we will teach some manners then SOM EOF THEM JUST COM MINISTERS U WIILL SEE……………pani scolarship…………uhhhhhhhhhhh pani vote……….we looking and waiting when the time is near…that Government will feel….a lot of us young students we do not remain young all the time…….remeber that eh…….give us four five years and we ready to roll.and i must say we Domnichen always remmeber who pull us up who push us down and who ignore us..so when that Labour party dere ner giviving increased scholarship………..how they expect to get good cicil servants and increase in Dominica development? i wonder………..

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