The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) stands in solidarity with the faculty and staff of the Dominica State College (DSC) in their current industrial action. Further, we call on all Dominicans who yearn for a better future to support these courageous individuals in their struggle to make the DSC the sort of pillar of national development that it ought to be.
The DFP view this latest protest action as so noteworthy and heartbreaking because this protest so sadly exposes the underlying pathology of this Labour Party led government. In a nutshell, this current government keeps pursuing shiny objects they believe will gain it votes while negligently ignoring transformational national projects. In other words, this government seems committed to bling, not authentic development. Development experts tell us that it is the knowledge, imagination, and creativity of a society – not natural resources per se – that drives its development. For example, Japan is a resource poor country but filled with educated, skilled, motivated people whom it leverages to be one of the largest economies in the world. Therefore, few things can be more important than developing an education ecosystem that equips a nation with 21st century knowledge and skills. This pursuit should be the central pillar of any well-led developing country. But we simply cannot create such an innovation and skills economy without our tertiary educational institutions being the bedrock – the keystone species – in such an ecosystem.
Why then is our primary tertiary education institution in such an appalling state of neglect? The DFP argues that this is because the present administration is blindly focused on building monuments not people. In their zeal for vote getting projects they become negligent – even incompetent – in their duty to build transformative institutions and enterprises. No one drives by and sees transformative institutional capacity such as a well-functioning education system. But things such as handouts and apartments are highly visible acts of the largesse of a King to his subjects. So these multiply rapidly with much fanfare while the true driver of a 21st century economy lies in ruin and despair.
The facilities that most lie in ruin at the DSC – the science labs, the information technology labs, the applied skills labs, a modern library – reveal just how uninformed the current government is about what drives national development. Smart, innovative spaces for the engineering arts and computer facilities for the digital era are the key spaces that make a college world class. Yet it is these very spaces that are most neglected. How can utterances about creating a digital economy or a blue-green innovation economy be taken seriously when the smart spaces for developing these skills lie abandoned?
The non-filling of several senior DSC positions also shows how little the current administration cares about developing those forms of national capacity that are not shiny and immediately visible. Surely there is little doubt that competent persons exist to fill these jobs. These positions are the senior leadership that can grow the DSC into an innovation powerhouse. Yet in an economy where jobs are scarce, such substantive positions are simply left unfilled. Why? One must believe it is because people who support the government are not yet identified. So once again building deep national capabilities is sacrificed on the altar of partisan concerns.
The Dominica Freedom Party calls on the current administration to abandon this destructive approach to national development. We ask them to abandon a superficial, monument-building strategy aimed at winning votes. We ask the government to instead focus on building an authentic economy, an authentic civil society, and an authentic democracy. All our futures depend on it.
That out of date Freedom so-called party and UWP trying to hijack what is happening at the Dominica state college with bulls**t rubbish, I am saying to all young students if it wasn’t for Prime Minister Dr Skerrit and his administration 95%of you guys would not be having higher education today, so all in all do not take any notice of those bunch of arrogant idiots you are smarter than they are, just take a look at what we have as a so-called opposition leader 71 year old or so loser which do not know what time of the day it is!! 🤣
We are seeing Government people and Prime Minister all over in nice luxurious cars while our young, youthful student at the State College under bondage with limited resources to best manage and lecture our commitment To youthful students ably supported by their Struggling parents and family members to ensure that they are well equipped everyday to undertake their studies and lecturer.
In the meantime we see that our States funds are likely abused and limited to undertake the necessary Development of our people and country and yet we see and hear of the abuse of our Government funds by this visionless despicable failed incompetent Questionable Labour Party Government. This is worrying and NOT in anyway elevating the Socioeconomic development concept of our people. We desperately need honesty and visionary in our Government and moreso where the leadership of our government is positioned. This Labour government under failed Skerrit must be well audited and account for our States Funds.
When are we going to get rid of this Fake, Incompetent Failed out of touch unprofessional LABOUR Party Government and its outdated Immature visionless Incompetent Odd failed Labour sitting Prime Minister. Guess this political comical Labour government has been going on for years now and has failed us the people of Dominica. After Twenty (20) long years all we see and hear about is a big ridiculous pappyshow Leader and the Obvious Failed incompetent Labour government.
We desperately need change in our Government and both the Prime Minister and his failed questionable Labour government must”Get the hell Out” of of our government and take your Failed Immature incompetent Visionless Skerrit with you. We have had enough of this Comical fanfare and absolutely nothing of substance to show our people where we are and where are we going. Dominicans MUST not make this Brutal mistake again in putting Immature Incompetent politically weak to lead our government and our people.OUT! Welcome…
This is a very informative statement that addresses the significance of education for a digital economy and era. Mr. Hurtault makes an important point about the need to focus on authentic rather than “bling” development. A well-educated populace is crucial so that we can create the human capital that is necessary for the advancement of our society.
Skerrit and them does get dazzled with the bling. Nothing of substance. when they come out where they come out and they not used to having nothing, women included, they does act like fat children in candy stores. they want to eat all.
These students grew up not seeing anything better.Show them what UWP did when they were in power for 4 1/2yrs.Everything Letang touch is political in favour of UWP.
The students are intelligent. They have come to realize that the current Skerrit led government is uncaring and extremely incompetent.
This government is not even capable of managing a small, sideway rum bar. Everything they manage disintegrates. They are a human Wrecking Ball.
By the way, politics affects everything in our lives. We can’t escape it. It affects the air we breathe, the foods we eat, the water we drink, the availability of jobs, the conditions of employment, etc.
If Mr. Letang as the president of the DPSU didn’t get involved, he would be guilty of dereliction of duty.
When UWP was in power, the economy was much much muhc more vibrant. Friday and saturday afternoons in Roseau was festive. All the businesses that started while UWP was in power have closed during DLP. The Clifton Dupigny Community College, although much smaller and more modest had 10 times more integrity, just ask Denise Charles and others who went to school in that time. Skerrit himself was a teacher there. The college had the techinical and the academic division. The quality of education, the system on a whole was better. Children had much more respect for themselves, each other, and their superiors at the time when UWP was in power. But you are right, our children grew up not seeing anything better than what the DLP is presented in the last 20 years. So if you are 20-23 years, i feel absolutely sorry for you because what you see now, is absolute garbage. Before he had an excuse, all morals, integrity, ethics and good will couldnt pay bills. now we have money, all values have left.
I am not surprised by this development. The DFP statement is right on the ball ..A nation cannot advance except through well educated human resource especially in the focus areas of science and technology to spur economic, and social development,, Diversion from the latter course will leave a country behind in the global competitive environment..As it is we are already saddled with enough ignorance..Where were the parents when all this at DSC was growing…You pay now or you pay later Late payments are usually more expensive in terms of social , political and economic advancement
Ok so we heard from;
CCM
DPSU
APP
DFP
CDPF- threatening students and staff live
Still no grand public action. So now I am calling on the Bossman (LL) to gather the masses and hit the streets day and night, no going home when night falls and bring Skerrit and his hooligaans to their knees. They need a dose of humility right now! Lock in down bro! Hello Newtown, Hello Bawi, Hello Marigot. Move it people we are fed up and now they want to disrespect our educators and youth? Oh hell no!
By the way where are the DBS reporters? Are they on Island?
This article hits every nail directly on the head. We have to talk about the issues that adversely affect us and our future. However, TALK alone won’t suffice, it must be supported by ACTION.
I once asked a political strategist why does the government allow schools and other institutions of learning fall into such disrepair and deprive them of such essential resources. He quietly watched me and retorted. “Concrete and steel get you votes not fully resourced schools.”
He added that concrete structures are easily visible to the public not many people see the contents in a classroom .
This is precisely the Skerrit led regime’s strategy. Everything this maladministration does is meticulously calculated for vote getting. Skerrit fishes for votes using apartment buildings, unmerited promotions and ham & turkey as baits. Unfortunately his catch is substantial. To a hungry man even bitter is sweet.
Couldn’t have said it better. No investment into Dominica’s future.
Remember what Lisa Wardel the CEO of Ross University said, just before Skerrit and his gang allowed it to take flight to Barbados Quote “””The government does not have a bias for Education and Healh”””..
So those two services are anathema to Skerrit!!!
This man is like a plague that has descended upon the country!!
More talk. I waiting for UWP to say something, for Skerrit to open his hole and say the protest action at the college was politically motivated. Like how the bus driver protest was politically motivated. Suggesting that if the politicians on the opposition didnt whisper in their ear to protest, everything would be nice and dandy. Noone would have made noise about the deplorable unhealthy state of the premier educational institution of the nation.
But on a different note. Im tired of these press “statements”. they have absolutely no weight. Yes they address the issues, but in Dominica, once friday reach and couple che be saw drink the issues of the day become no longer serious. Everything becomes a joke. Students need to stand their grounds and demand better, because it is these same students he will target to keep him in power for the next 20 years. Remember DLP is all most of them know for the past 20 years. They dont know better. If they knew better, they would do better.
It is political. The situation did not happen overnight. Where were the political parties when the situation was deteriorating? Now the opposition is now out with their propaganda trying to make political mileage.
You are so predictable. Surprise people for once with something edifying. The same old, lame accusation of politics. We live in a political system. If affects everything in our lives. It’s inescapable.
Guess you wish to say it’s partisan politics. If partisan politics is about crying foul for the obnoxious, odorous and utterly disgusting and filthy working conditions at the State’s leading learning institution then I welcome it’
If we knew better,
Keep on dreaming and your so-called political bulls**t will only fool you and scattered brains if any such as UWP supporters.
Im not a uwp supporter. Im a supporter of what is right. I dont vote with 1 man in mind who is not on my ballot sheet. I dont make excuses for the mediocrity that is happening here in a land filled with valuable resources.