Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean has said the All Saints University School of Medicine has created a positive impact on Dominica’s economy.
He made that remark while delivering an address at the university’s White Coat Ceremony last weekend. Saint Jean was representing Acting Prime Minister Dr. Colin McIntyre.
“As a government, we acknowledge the advantages to the island as we realize significant revenues from the activities of offshore medical institutions based here,” he stated. “I believe that the value added to the local economy is indeed note-worthy. I speak here of employment generation and the provision of foreign direct investment and other foreign exchange inputs.”
He said the economic spin over of the school’s presence in Dominica is evident.
“Certainly we have seen positives spin overs into the economy from students and the non-local faculty spending on accommodation, living expenses and of course entertainment,” he noted.
Saint Jean went on to say that the government value this kind of partnership that allows for growth.
“The University is continuing to grow its student role while our local economy receives a boost,” he noted.
Meantime, he revealed that the All Saint’s University School of Medicine has been actively engaged in discussions with the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for formal accreditation in medicine and other health professions.
“I have been reliably informed that the school has submitted a formal request for accreditation of its programmes,” he revealed.
St Jean commended the school on this initiative, “because this coupled with the recent site clearing and preparation for the construction of your new facilities at Warner is an indication of the seriousness that All Saints attaches to the investments that it has here in Dominica.”
He said the government encourages the administrators to continue efforts to grow the institution into a world- class center of study that provides students with cutting-edge skills and knowledge to be at the top of their field.
Is that all he acknowledges ? He should acknowledge the fact that Dominican students are given so called “scholarship” that does not cover entire medical tuition fees ,(although stated otherwise )after years of studies and many of them are stuck and cannot continue because of lack of financial assistance and ineligibility for loans .Letters given to students which are not accepted by the school itself because they know the govt is not good at its word ….Its a shame to see these young intelligent people struggling for jobs that cant even help them to save to continue, hearing their constant’ i’m trying ‘or ‘i am tired of trying’, ‘if i knew the gov’t was not going to keep to its word i would not have started something i cant finish’…
I don’t even know why he goes to white coat ceremonies …. hypocrite .
Dominica ought to be ashamed to have its name associated with this institution.
Is it only economic benefits that’s important to the country and our people? Of the size contributed by All Saints?
Please! Get real, St. Jean, Minister of EDUCATION.
World class centre of study? Get real.
If ROSS is a world class center why cant All Saints be one?
Who says ROSS is world class. Whoever did needs to get his/her head out of the sand.