DEF concerned about TVET and vending in Roseau

Achille Chris Joseph, Executive Director, DEF. File photo

President of the Dominica Employers Federation (DEF) Achille Joseph has raised concerns about what he says is the non-functioning Technical Vocational Educational and Training Council (TVET) in Dominica.

Joseph told a pre-budget discussion at Fort Young Hotel hosted by the Dominica Business Forum that the non functioning of TVET is impacting the business community.

“We have the issue of the Technical Vocational and Education program in Dominica which has been lacking tremendously which has been championed by BCAD [the Builders and Contractors Association of Dominica] and we can not move forward in rolling out more technical competences as well as the CVQs because the TVET Council in Dominica basically does not function and for us to have our CVQs in Dominica, the council must vet the CVQs accessors as well as the institution doing the training,” he stated.

He explained that if BTC wants to train people to write the CVQs, BTC can not do that until they are vetted by the TVET council.

“The TVET council, I don’t know if it has a spirit or a bad ghost but it has not been functioning and if there is a TVET council appointed for the 2019 period I can tell you it does not meet; it does not function and as a result, the business community can not have people certified for their technical competences,” Joseph explained.

Joseph added that the issue of vending in Roseau is a matter of concern.

“Another issue that the private sector has been grappling with and I use the word grappling, because it’s been a long time; that has to do with two major issues in the city of Roseau. The vendors who by law, selling fresh produce are supposed to be in the confines of the Roseau market by law, are all over the place on the side walks in Roseau, especially right in front of retail operations, retailing products at prices that compete directly with the retail operations,” the DEF official stated.

He said they [DEF] have had meetings with DEXIA and DEXIA has admitted its role in confining these people to the Roseau market but that is proving very difficult.

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11 Comments

  1. %
    July 13, 2019

    Well Lisa Wardel CEO of Ross University had the foresight in instructing us that this DLP government does not have a bias to education. Does Peter Petter St Jean, even care? To make matters worse Skerrit discarded him as a candidate ..!!!
    Re vendors selling on the road side? My take is that anything sold should be on a table or stall, and I am all for these vendors to be housed somewhere… So much money for votes all around the place. Didn’t Skerrit tell us he run things? Well it’s because he runs things badly that Dominica is in that mess.

  2. Joseph John
    July 12, 2019

    I wonder who attended this session. This was a consultation about the budget , so can we have some budget related stuff ?
    Me man looks good in his all blue attire.

  3. Lord help us
    July 12, 2019

    Them Haitians taking over the market, they done take over Portsmouth own and run off all Dominicans fro der, i pass de market in Roseau de other day and i barely see Dominicans der, i swear i was in Haiti, and is dem that have more bad mouth to give Dominicans wi. I wonder how many of them here legaly. We need to do like trump and start raiding them, IMMIGRATION WHAT YOU ALL DOING? IT SO HARD FOR ME AS A DOMINICAN TO GET MY OWN PASSPORT AND TO START MY OWN BUSINESS BUT DEM HAITIAN JUST DOING IT OVERNIGHT, WHAT IS DAT. I CAN NEVER VOTE RED AGAIN.

  4. Roger Burnett
    July 12, 2019

    First: in case anyone is wondering – like I was – as to what CVQ stands for. It is an abbreviation for Caribbean Vocational Qualification.

    Second: If I should want to train a person by way of a six year indentured apprenticeship (which the accepted norm for skilled work) must I be vetted by the Technical Vocational Educational and Training Council beforehand?

    Third: Roseau Market is presently operating alongside a pool of raw sewage and hence constitutes a health hazard.

    • Casio
      July 15, 2019

      AMEN. Especially about the Roseau Market. Disgusting place. And raw produce is sold there.

  5. Not A Herd Follower
    July 12, 2019

    Dominica is really not a real country. That’s why some people, including the current PM, abuse her.

  6. Ibo france
    July 12, 2019

    Mr. Joseph’s comments and concerns are quite legitimate and instructive. This current administration gives only lip service to the indispensable needs of the country. Vocational education should be a top priority. Skills are badly lacking in Dominica, but, the government brings in foreign persons and contractors to fill the void, pays them exorbitant money and they ( Skerrit’s administration) are fully satisfied with the current situation. This regime has tunnel vision. They focus solely, exclusively on retaining power, on winning the next and the next and the next general election. Every other thing, no matter how urgent or significant, is secondary. The pothole diseased roads, the crumbling bridges, the failing healthcare system, the anorexic wages and salaries of public servants, the high crime rate can wait, the suppression and marginalization of the opposition members must be given top priority, the bribing of the destitute, the gullible and the illiterate next in line.

  7. Trevor Fabien
    July 12, 2019

    Let’s be totally honest with ourselves. There is no proper market in the capital with facilities for vendors and customers. Yes, I agree that the vendors should be in the market however this market would not be able to accommodate every vendor in the capital. It’s high time that this market was upgraded thus creating a beautiful retail space and a comfortable environment for both customers and vendors alike.
    The government needs to step up and sort the market mess out first before the vendors can be issued with tickets. Why would the police enforce a law when there is little or no alternative to the vending problem that we see in Roseau

    • Ibo france
      July 12, 2019

      That’s a very valid point. That is not too difficult for those that occupy the office of government to do. Renovating and possibly expanding the market will make a great difference in he lives of vendors, buyers and pedestrians. Then again, the executive main focus in on bribing and fooling the destitute, gullible and ignorant to stay in power. They can’t relate to the people’s pain or concerns much too busy living their champagne lifestyles. They have their sign written on their hearts in all caps: DO NOT DISTURB!

    • Toto
      July 13, 2019

      Yeah Lets be honest, our country in a mess and Roseau one
      stinking mess with sewage going direc into the river. But no, we not suppose to say that and pretend the corpse is still alive. Well, you all keep closing your eyes, pinch you nose and put wax in your ears and praise our leadership and be grateful to them because we never had it so good. Good luck.

  8. Casio
    July 12, 2019

    Ive been hearing about TVET since 2014. I dont think we are serious about it. We talk the good talk. We know the advantages of inplementing it. But nothing. what is the Ministry of Education doing?

    Regarding the vendors, instruct the police to issue tickets if they see them posted up with tables etc. and selling fresh produce. No questions asked. You should be in the market. In addition, the respective businesses who have issues with this need to posts signs stating “NO LOITERING, NO SOLICITING” and enforce their policies.

    Many times politics has a lot to play when rules and laws are not enforced here. Also many times it is just laziness and lack of accountability.

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