As the Fall Semester academic registration deadline quickly approaches, the plea from Dominican students at Midwestern State University (MSU) becomes more urgent in order to avert an impending crisis for these students in the United States. In what they consider the last straw, Dominican students have reached out to Dominica News Online to make an appeal to the Government of Dominica, urging the fulfillment of a commitment to resolve outstanding tuition fees.
The Texas-based pupils disclosed that failure to resolve the outstanding payments not only hinders their educational progress but also jeopardizes their visa statuses, potentially leading to termination, hence, they feel compelled to bring this issue to the public’s attention for a swift resolution. Additionally, the students assert that their attempts to communicate with various departments within the government have gone unanswered, further prompting them to issue this appeal.
“As the new academic registration is set to commence on November 6, it is imperative that the outstanding payments are settled promptly.”
Payment records shared by the students from 2021 to the present, highlighted a lapse in payments by the government of Dominica which has resulted in the government owing the learning institution, in excess of USD 1 million. DNO was further reliably informed that the government had committed to a set payment plan of $100,000.00 to MSU monthly which they failed to honor.
“However, as of now, the government has made two payments under this arrangement. Additionally, during our recent discussion with MSU officials, the government requested two invoices, each amounting to $500,000.00 in the last week of August, but the corresponding payments have not been made as yet,” they made known.
“We implore the Government of Dominica to prioritize this matter and provide a viable solution before the upcoming deadline,” the students pleaded. “Our academic futures and legal standings in the United States are at stake.”
Recently, both MSU and Grambling State University issued ultimatums to the government of Dominica for payment. In letters addressed to Dominican students at both institutions, it was noted that the schools had shown patience and understanding towards the government of Dominica, considering the financial challenges posed by external factors such as the pandemic and natural disasters.
However, the accumulating unpaid balances, totaling millions of dollars, have reached a critical point where the universities can no longer sustain the financial strain.
Dr. Edwin Litolff, Vice President for Finance of GSU, revealed that the government of Dominica has accumulated a balance of over USD 3.1 million. Consequently, the university issued an ultimatum to the government of Dominica, providing them with “one last opportunity for payment.”
If payment is not received, Dominican students will be barred from registering for classes or residing on campus for the Spring Semester of 2024. Days later, another letter surfaced this time from MSU’s Vice President for Administration and Finance, Dr. Beth Reissenweber, and Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs and Chief Strategy Office, Dr. Keith Lamb, in which MSU stated that all Dominican students will be required to individually comply with the standard payment terms in place for MSU students.
“Any balance owed on your student account, including balances that the Commonwealth of Dominica had promised to pay, must be paid in full before you will be able to register for the Spring 2024 semester. This will include fall 2023 charges. Additionally, any student with a past due government and/or student balance will be unable to receive a transcript upon graduation, in accordance with MSU policy,” the letter stated.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in response acknowledged the financial challenges faced by his government however pledged a commitment to students’ higher education at an August press conference.
“We have started paying for the students studying overseas. We’re sending a million US dollars to Grambling to pay for the students, and we’ll be sending half a million dollars to Midwestern, so we’re paying down on our debt to students.”
Skerrit emphasized the government’s engagement with affected students, urging them to display self-control and discipline in addressing challenges. He highlighted the government’s significant financial investment in education, aiming to create a robust educational framework for success.
The Prime Minister averred that his government’s discreet but substantial financial investment in education reflects their dedication to creating a robust educational framework that equips Dominicans for success.
Imagine the “I’m-the-people” leader telling the students overseas on government scholarships who are under tremendous stress and uncertainty, that they should exercise restraint and discipline in how they address their plight caused by him and his cabal. Skerritt is the one how needs to exercise discipline because he’s so out of touch that he can’t empathize with the plight of young vulnerable children in a foreign country and who don’t have the means to pay the debt which he has put them in. He’s so arrogant that he now believes that these institutions need him and the money for the scholarships. Get outta here Garson, your words don’t mean diddlysquat to the principals of the universities involved. Can’t you be disciplined to realize they want their money, now!!!. Please pay up and end the stressful nightmare for the students and their families. My God, have a heart. Skerritt.
Allu didnt think of that when allu come down and vote? Artist have to be paid for creole festival. behave allu self eh
These students should first ask their parents to contact the government on their behalf. Because I’m “assuming” that they were selected based on their parents Diehard support of the labor government. So here you have labor supporters feeling the heat. When you are a Diehard supporter of something and that thing fails you; then your heat/fire is hotter and your Salt more Salty. So feel it and suck it. Come back because change is soon to come. Another Ross University is coming and will cover all subjects.
Sorry children but there is no money for that! Between the cool-out, red clinic, free houses for Labour party supporters and bribes for votes we have no money left to do the real development!
it does not make sense for kids to come up to the US to get an associates or B when they can get that at uwi in Dominica they should come for a masters or so and they not passing back after all that money is spend for them
Don’t even understand why people are still going to study on “govt scholarships” especially with no backup plan. This pattern of nonpayment has been ongoing and left to fester and it seems like they cannot get it under control. Why would you put yourself in such a situation? Is it that many of them are just desperate to leave the country and will take any opportunity to get out? Most of them never return, it’s like government funded brain drain… this is a mess. They need to pay the bills and get it under control. Stop sending new students when you can’t even afford to pay for those already overseas… I may be slow Bt that seems like common sense.
Sorry kids, your silence is deafening when it comes to matters of State; so what did you expect; “they came for the Jews and because you were not a Jew, you said nothing, now they have come for you there is no one to stand up for you. I hope there are lessons learnt for you and your parents. These hyenas will chew you up and spit you out, keep on dreaming my children the future of Dominica is yours stand up for it.
Both parties are to be blamed – the government for not keeping their end of the bargain in assisting the students, and the students and parents not having a backup plan. The government’s promise is their word and should be honored, but also, they are not obligated to help you. Parents should know that in situations like this, your child needs the education so you should have every back up in place when things go wrong. The majority of Dominicans don’t plan ahead. If you place some funds aside towards your child’s tuition and basic needs, you can expect and feel assured that once your child graduates, he or she is not obligated to return and contribute in their home country. Never trust a handout. If I am going to make a valuable impact to my country, it is going to be from my efforts, terms and my own sacrifices and hard work. Just a thought to consider.
“The government’s promise is their word and should be honored, but also, they are not obligated to help you.”
You are the worst apologist I have ever read! You are contradicting your own self in your own statement. Don’t you know that a Government scholarship is a legally biding contract and a lot more than mere “word should be honoured”! What nonsense are you thinking?
Who said I want to take sides? I am just stating that both are blamed and its a thought to consider.
“Both parties are to be blamed – the government for not keeping their end of the bargain in assisting the students, and the students and parents not having a backup plan.”
A very fair comment!
You are spot on right. I have no sympathy for them. The parents must all be DLP supporter otherwise Skerrit wouldn’t have made the promise anyway. They deserve all they get. Sorry!
How do you solve an economy that is on the brink of bankruptcy, insolvency, and unable to pay its debts or meet its obligations? In Dominica, you call a snap election to give yourself 5 more years, get a bunch of puppet political kindergarteners, and keep all the “senior” ministers on the payroll while continuing to claim $64,000. monthly rent. Defies commonsense, right? But this seems to be the Dominica way. Now that passport selling, their only string has been broken, the debt time bomb is going tick tock! tick tock! And then at the inauguration of the President, the pastor prayed that God would make Dominica the bread basket of the Caribbean once again (SMH). A prayer will not make that happen. They need to start planning and planting now as an alternative to passport selling. Anyone remotely acquainted with the Holy Book knows the text from the Book of Proverbs, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Where is the outrage from civil society? When activism and advocacy are totally absent in a country, where corruption, inequality and injustice are rampant, unsavory things happen. Life in that particular country becomes insufferable for the vast majority of the citizenry. Dominica is a flawless example of this.
It is funny how it is ok to pay 64k a month for rent after 90% GDP and 200% of GDP destroyed after Erika and Maria. it is also amazing that after financial crisis, and pandemic we can build international Airport, geothermal, health centers, and apartments yet we still begging China an the Meg cow Venezuela. However, cannot make payments to promised scholarships. when will folks realize this was for political optics, impulsive, and disingenuous. the psychopathic tendencies reveal themselves in the decisions that are smoke screens to the true intentions of manipulating population. BTW skerrit and Melissa salary, gifts, donations from mmc, business that is directly owned, underhand kick backs, and state benifits/allowances we have created a monster. who do not hear will feel. these students need to stand up and instead of begging fight to change the abuse not just for themselves but for future Dominicans. let fate take its course.
“Skerrit emphasized the government’s engagement with affected students, urging them to display self-control and discipline in addressing challenges.”
Just pay the damn bill and shut up!!
Again you are creating a needless crisis and then pretend you are the only one who can come to the rescue.
Minister Pampalam the sitting Minister of Education was very serious when she instructed the students to go shake their pampalams if they want to finance their university tuition.
This government is one of broken promises, stubborn refusal to pay its debts, and takes superlative pleasure in human suffering.
Taxpayers have doled out well over $3 000 000 for Roosevelt, Melissa and their two American born children to live in exquisite opulence. This money plus the unnecessary fleet of government owned luxurious vehicles could have easily covered the tuition of the students.
Those who still throw their unwavering support behind Roosevelt are like Satan- worshipping members of a cult.
let me see if Skerrit will blame some imaginary Dominican terrorists looking to make his government look bad and simultaneously bring down de good name of Dominica.
look at Skerrit commitment to his mantra….”a graduate in every household”!
what sort of teacher was Skerrit anyway……. look at his record now!
will he blame Lennox Linton? de opposition? white terrorists who hate Dominica? de media hate u? u put it aside to bring nasty business in WCMF lineup? u using it to promote yourself as a bouyon artist?
we must keep exposing Skerrit real true self!!
double speak, forked tongue king liar!!!!
since end of August……. concentration on de President…… money exchange hands there for sure…. promotion and otherwise.
seriously Skerrit uses all that flair and de ordinary Dominican you can’t afford luxury is just a piece of skin or plastic really that shadowing Skerrit true self image!
“In what they consider the last straw, Dominican students have reached out to Dominica News Online to make an appeal to the Government of Dominica, urging the fulfillment of a commitment to resolve outstanding tuition fees.” Bad idea. What can DNO, Q95, and the other outlets (all of them hostile to the Government) used in social media do? Nothing. Sure, this is bad press for the Government but this reaching out to DNO reflects very poorly on those who did; more so on them than on the Government, which has already stated privately to them and publicly that payments will be made. Their recourse was always the private, diplomatic, route.
people like you are why slavery lasted 400 years
That’s EC$8.4 million the government owes. Why doesn’t this vagabond Skerrit pay the bill. Why did he and continues to promise to pay for further education if he isn’t minded to pay the bills. Why do you all call this man Honourable…? He is anything but…!
They should be withholding the 64k a month rent payment, and use it to pay the outstanding tuition for the students. If this pm wants to live like a king let him pay for the rent himself.