Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has condemned the actions of principals of secondary schools on the island who withhold students’ report cards as a result of failure to pay school fees.
Skerrit, speaking at a handing over ceremony, on Sunday, said these actions are contrary to the laws of Dominica.
“…We have to review our education system,” he said. “And let me warn the school principals in Dominica, the last time I checked, secondary education in Dominica is free, and schools have come about and they’re charging students fees. And now, they say to the students and their parents ‘If you don’t pay these fees, then you won’t get your report cards’. Well, let me say to them that this action is contrary to the laws of Dominica, and let me say to them that it is going to stop because education in Dominica is free to our children.”
The Prime Minister stated that such practices are “punitive” and will directly affect the less fortunate, who are unable to pay the imposed fees.
He advised that schools’ decisions in regards to payment must be governed by the Education Act.
“When we do these things, we’re denying children access to their property, their grades. Obviously, it is always the less fortunate who will be left behind. It has to stop, and it is going to stop,” Skerrit explained. “I have no problem with children and their parents making a contribution to the school, but when it becomes punitive, it is something else, and therefore, they must follow the Education Act, which speaks to fees and who has the authority to approve fees to be charged to students.”
He also revealed plans to publicly hold government officials directly accountable for their actions.
“I am going to start speaking openly to the people of Dominica on things I do not like that’s happening in the government system, because… one man cannot be taking everybody’s blows,” Skerrit stated.“We’re gonna place the things where they are, and who are responsible bust take action, or else I will come to the public and say it.”
PM. How about ensuring that the government schools have what they need so they won’t have to charge school fees?
Stick to your portfolio and tell de nation about your government plans to save our struggling economy that depends solely on CBI.
You told us of the inability for government to support social programs like red clinic and NEP because of the current negative trends in CBI revenues…. because of negative publicity.
How do you plan to turn it around?
Will you continue to depend on your failing due diligence framework?
Election victory didn’t clean your hands.
You have a dumper load of responsibility in your 7 ministries……talk about dat nuh?
Why you ignoring de real issues?
u are unlawful and you have no right to speak to me about issues in law!
I don’t even recognize you as my Prime Minister!
all what you saying going down de hole where it deserves to be……..i flush dat down de toilet!!!!
Skerrit on the rampage “…We have to review our education system,” he said. “And let me warn the school principals in Dominica, the last time I checked, secondary education in Dominica is free, and schools have come about and they’re charging students fees. As usual blames everyone else: “…
This Should read to our suffering people and ailing Domininca;
” We have to review our political system, in operation while Skerrit was still wearing short pants. This baby in the village. Let us all warn failed immature Odd Minister Skerrit that the last time we checked there has been good governance and no Thievery/Bobol in our decent government and now Skerrit has reduced our people through the abuse of states funds by destroying cash, big money to our suffering people he has created as beggars over 19 failed years. And Skerrit`s so called blind loyalists condone these thievery and know that Skerrit is not this intellectual compared to our intellectual Hon. Linton, our next decent Prime…
You keep branding Linton as a decent, intellectual, the next Prime Minister. When will you stop your wishful thinking? You said it before the elections and he still is not. We do not want any destructive thug and school drop out as our next Prime Minister. We also want a handsome Prime Minister like the late Maurice Bishop. …………. streets on fire, and destroying properties yet, you say our next decent Prime Minister. You will keep saying our next until the world comes to an end without Lennox ever being a Prime Minister. I hope you help him pay for his next court challenge legal bill.
I do not know which schools are withholding grades for non-payment of fees, but it would seem it would be private schools. Public education is free but private education is not. So if parents choose to send their kids to private schools, they would know they need to pay fees and the schools would withhold grades. The Prime Minister must realize private schools operators who render educational services are entitled to payment from the beneficiaries of these services and are within their rights when the enforce their policies.
He is aware. He is flexing! Typical behavior of a dictator.
Oh oh! So he’s the minister of education too? That’s an all rounder for your money. But the real thing, the real deal, the 1.2 Big Bs him not touching that issue tal….
That’s “classified” matters.
He’s the minister of everything in DA. Most notably the the Ministry of Constant Lies, the Ministry of empty promises and the Ministry of false accounting and deceit.
“PM cautions principals against withholding students’ report cards” Skerrit the devilish and evil people of a corrupted Labour government cannot forgive sins and talk of the good. Skerrit, go clean up yours, or our states resources before you attempt to open your big mouth for fame and make a fool of yourself.
Skerrit, the devil in practice of thievery and corruption cannot forgive sins. We ned you to account for our states Bin Bobo, Fertilizer Bobol, Red Clinic obvious open bobol of buying loyalty from poor people that you and your failed corrupt Labour government has created. Skerrit, you and your failed labour boys are stained forever and we need you to get the hell out of our government. Skerrit , get the hell out of our government and let us put in place a disciplined party and government and professional decent replacement to be our Prime Minister. You have failed us.
We do recognise our highly professional trusted and leadership Hon. Lennox Linton and his professional UWP…
“I am going to start speaking openly to the people of Dominica on things I do not like that’s happening in the government system, because… one man cannot be taking everybody’s blows,”
Totally Agreed so first thing to do is give up the Office of Finance so we can have a more open and fair Parliament!!!
So can the people start speaking openly to you without backlash where you chastise them about bringing ingratitude,,,
Bro you are delusional nuff respect given to you for attaining such a high Post coming from humble beginnings but you taking this to\ a level you have not prepared your-smarts for!!!
Bro you are not a Leader you may have stubbled on some favorable conditions but stop it already!!!!
Well said. He is weak too. Imagine crying like a baby talking about not taking blows for people. Whatever, DUDE! You should take blows for people. Why, then, are you in such a great position? If you cyan stan de heat, get out of de kitchen— DUDE!
Ah who dis – Skerrit that dere telling people about following and obeying the law?
Skeeeeerrrrrriiiiiiittttt???????????
He also revealed plans to publicly hold government officials directly accountable for their actions.
Yes, I believe that can and will happen, if a little fish / low level employee comes to work late, or was rude to their supervisor , or steal a calculator, i’m sure you will come down with a heavy hand.
BUT, if one of your big boys do X or Y or steal money, or abuse their power. All of you will “cover for them even if you know the truth” (if i’m remembering a certain quote correctly) . It’s obvious to everyone that certain persons are getting away with things the common man would be held accountable for. And to the party supporters that call themselves Christians, remember the bible says to have no respect of person(meaning, dont be influenced because of someone’s wealth / rank ).
PS, Hope that will include police that do away with traffic tickets for their friends , gf/bf/wife/husband/ father etc
That slave plantation mentality island has a mad man on their hands holding the highest office! This one-man corrupt rogue regime prime mistake continues to demonstrate how irresponsible he is! That madman has no boundaries,he seems to continue interfering in all other Ministerial positions! Why the heck that education is free but students and teachers don’t know
That loosehead holding office of prime minister has no class and character for the office he holds!!!
I agree with Skerrit that every school child should receive his/her report. This is law. Education is free at the primary and secondary levels. No student should be mandated to pay unnecessary fees. Having said all that, Skerrit should lead by example. There are so many financial reports he has hidden from the people. He should not be the one to chastise principals. The man does not possess the moral authority to do that.
Dear Prime Minister,
You’d be surprised to find out that poor people pay the school fee as best as they can. They bring it in by $20.00 sometimes ten.. but those that in every fete, with their brand new outfits, vapour max, weave, nails always have an excuse to pay the school fee.
I suggest that you Mr. Skerrit,
1. Speak to parents so that they can take up their responsibilities.
2. Supply the schools monthly because it takes money to operate a school; toiletries, electricity, water, stationary.. the two mops and brooms and bale of toilet paper they send to the school for the entire year isn’t enough.
3. Stop paying the fees at Pioneer for your children and encourage all the parents there to stop and you’ll provide the school with handout..
Signed,
A teacher
Listen to him playing the righteous one. How about accounting for our passport money? You are the biggest villain on the island. Shut up!
Too many less fortunate people in Dominica. That’s what that needs to be addressed
“…these actions are contrary to the laws of Dominica.” I wonder if this man know what those are under any circumstances? I’ll wait…
Skerrit is devoid of class, manners, decorum.
This is not a matter you should babble about on a Sunday..
That’s should be addressed at a Principal’s meeting, by the Minister of education.
I know the maniac, Skerrit, took upon himself a myriad of ministries. Was Minister of Education one of them?
After stealing the election, Skerrit is on a love seeking exercise!
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money,?
You are such a bad example!!
So many things you should not like::
Foreign mercenaries going to Patriot Linton’s home!
Missing $1.291 billion!
Dominica being the last country in the world without electoral reform!
Election rigging!
Lack of a hospital in Marigot!
The spraying of innocent people with tear has whilst in their bed!
Al JAZEERA calling you all hungry hyenas!
All the Al JaZeera allegations!
The destruction of the Dominican economy..
Why can’t the Minister of education address the issue at a principals meeting?
Guess you are so doggone empty, you go to functions unprepared, so you just jump from topic to topic!That’s idiocy!!
You are out of place to deal with such an issue in another forum outside of a principals meeting.. But you run things! Idiot,! If I were a principal I would put pen on paper and respond on how you are rude and out of place to have school issues, that can be handled by principals in your crap.
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di…
Why does this man continue disrupting the peace of our country? He knows that QUALITY EDUCATION IS NOT FREE in DOMINICA. He knows that the owners of the so called “government assisted schools” have to build the schools, maintain them, REBUILD them after damage from hurricanes using their own funds, and pay some of the teachers, if not all. He knowns that the only contribution of our education taxes to those schools by the Government is to pay some teachers. I know that he is not mathematically competent, but contributing MY TAX money to payment of SOME OF THE STAFF does not make education free in DOMINICA. School fees ARE NECESSARY. To put it bluntly, the PRIME MINISTER is again lying!
He knows for example the less fortunate children in Goodwill catchment have to share secondary school with those of the Grammar School.
He knows that he made college free, but it is an under-resourced nightmare for the less fortunate … and the technical section is rotting since H Maria.
All this whilst Parl reps and public officials cower in fear.. failing to report and fight against the pervasive corruption and devolutiin of every institution which serves for good governance of our country.
This man makes me want to puke. Shameless boldface crate. If you dont want the schools to apply pressure to get their fees then give them money to run their day to day affairs. Go build Goodwill Seconday School like u promised years ago. Man. Go pay the public servants properly. Go appoint the people u have acting in Hollywood. Shameless dog.
I have no doubt that sort of gutter practices are principals of so-called Workers followers which are all out to discredit the good reputation of Mr Skerrit government, there are many like them Hospital, everywhere on island it is about time to steam clean them for good
Mr dog am 47 and my fifth child is now passing through high school and those fee’s help run the school..you and peee…m will cause our children school to fail…ye poor boys dat see money..yes demonnee.
They work without supervision, their work not audited every three months. They make mistakes and the PM takes the blame and still keep their jobs.Better late than never. Every office must be accountable, keep proper records and accept signatures where necessary for the smooth running of the country
Man bites dogs, please be guided that this failed immature, incompetent Skerrit of yours and the worse corrupt political Party, that Obvious Bobol Labour failed government has stained themselves and it will be see to be so for many years to come. To this day after many years, over a hundred years we still recognised Satan as this dubious betrayal person. We know that in this century it is the DLP under this failed Skerrit and his blind failed so called mosquito and blind loyalists are the ones who have failed and crru0ed our Dominica and reduced our people to poverty, begging and blind loyalty.
“……followers which are all out to discredit the good reputation of Mr Skerrit government. Skerrit has discredited his own name and as with this immature behavior and failed as this incompetent Prime Minster, he has nowhere to go to get the hell out of our Dominica government where he has failed and has crippled our economy, reduced employment as ur people suffer and now its passports.
@ dog biter man; your dog continues to bark with rage again!!!
Good reputation? The factual Al Jazeera documentary has proven that Skerrit is a disgrace to Dominica. His corrupt practices are global. He is a pariah. He’s morally and ethically bankrupt. In any other well governed country this corrupt scoundrel would have been behind bars awaiting trial.
“We have no doubt that the gutter practices are the blind bats of so-called failed, incompetent blind DLP followers who have discredited successfully the reputation of failed immature Skerrits government. There are many like them in Labour`s failed Cabinet. This failed, corrupted Labour Government is about time that these blind boyish Skerrit boom boom flies in denial to have those who have abandoned failed boyish Skerrit to steam clean them for good.” In other words Skerrit is this failed leader and Odd Minister that must get the hell out our government. Skerrit has reduced our people to poverty, begging and with no employment for our people with failed Skerrit flying all over while our people, our ailing Dominica remain in poverty and suffering. DLP people created this immature childish Skerrit and his failed Bobolistic failed Labour government. Skerrit get the hell out of our Dominica and government – you have been named as the worse, incompetent PM in Dominica. Get lost -Get…
Then I assume all secondary school principals are UWP followers. It is a practice that all schools are engaged in.
Man bites dogs, woof, woof: List to us the ” So called “good reputation of Mr Skerrit government?” Where did you get it from, what analysis or report that you have undertaken as evidence that you will do anything fraudulent in protection of your failed Skerrit. Over 19 years, woof woof Man Bites Dogs and Skerrit, then you are bind and irresponsible and you put Skerrit first ahead of everything else relating to and related to our suffering people and failed Dominica.
Your Skerrit has crippled our Domininca agriculture and e have this PM Clown with his blind acolytes appears to be selling our passports. We also question y9 and Skerrit re the Various Bobols: Here Goes: 1. Bib Bobo Bool, 2. Fertiliser Bobol, 3. The fraudulent Red Clinic, where poor people go to Financial Centre, to receive our hard earned tax money given out indiscriminately to our suffering people. Skerrit has killed our agriculture why our farmers are begging for handouts. Dominica needs a decent PM, not Skerrit.
so overseas voters not against the law as well ( both labour and workers )
U doh c nothing yet..jus now u will c a pilot flying his plane and at the same time will be by the bay fishing marcoshart…but as for me it took me 25 years to know that i cannot hold barlawou with bate.