Dominicans studying in China, specifically those in Wuhan, say they are trapped and need to be evacuated.
Wuhan is where the deadly Coronavirus or COVID-19 originated and is also the home of about sixteen Dominican nationals. Current nine of the students and one employed person are in the city.
In an open letter to the public made available to Dominica News Online (DNO) by the Dominican Students Council in China, the students made a desperate plea for the provision of basic necessities and discussions on their possible evacuation from the epicentre of the virus.
They emphasized how “emotionally and mentally harrowing it is for many” of them.
The students also criticized as untrue, statements made at a press conference by the Health Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre on February 21, that “all of our students, we haven’t had anything negative coming from them as regards to their health… their main concern is when can they start back classes,”.
According to the students, the statement is not only a misrepresentation of the situation in Wuhan, but is also very hurtful to those who know that this does not speak truthfully of their conditions.
“There are students in Wuhan who are unsure of how they will be able to access basic supplies such as clean drinking water, grocery items, and disinfectants when their current supplies run out. The thought of not knowing where supplies will come from aggravates the psychophysiological injuries of many,” the letter states.
Furthermore, the students say such declarations preclude any discussion of possible intervention schemes from the powers that be.
“It is critical to clarify that while no Dominican student in China has been infected with the coronavirus, the mental health of some students in the epicenter is far from ideal. The virus has taken an obvious emotional and mental toll and a comprehensive health report should take this into consideration,” the students wrote.
Additionally, they say, after weeks of isolation, many are depressed, lonely and despondent.
Contrary to the article’s claim that the most pressing concern for students is when school recommences, the students explained in their letter, that universities have already set up online systems that have allowed most schools to run classes in the past couple of weeks.
However, many students are reportedly having a hard time dealing with academic responsibilities due to the psychological distress and the yearning for mental and emotional relief.
The students say they have relayed their circumstances “multiple times” to various Dominican offices and officials, including the Dominican Embassy to the People’s Republic of China, and ministries concerned with Education and Health.
“We are grateful for what effort was made in order to reach out to the students and the financial contribution made by the government of Dominica. We are very aware of the reality of the challenges involved in providing aid to the students in Wuhan, and so, our requests continue to be reasonable. Evacuation of students from Wuhan remains the best option,” they wrote.
The students are also recommending a joint effort among the CARICOM member states with citizens in Wuhan.
“Similar arrangements have been made by other countries who grouped together to get their citizens from Wuhan. There is strength in numbers, and cooperation of nations would secure a better chance of providing assistance to those trapped in Wuhan,” they wrote.
The students are further requesting frequent and open lines of communication, so that information can be reliably passed on, and to avoid misrepresentation of the reality on the ground.
The students also used their letter to commend the efforts of the Chinese government in tackling the Coronavirus.
In an effort to establish the authenticity of the letter, DNO contacted the Dominica Students Council in China. We were told that while the letter did come from the Students Council, they did not wish to disclose the identity of any individual involved “and would prefer to be recognized as a body representing the interest of the students.”
More than 92,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide and the number of deaths from the virus has reached 3,110 globally.
DNO has tried unsuccessfully so far, to contact the minister responsible for health, Dr. Irving McIntyre, for comment on the letter. Our efforts will continue.
Below is the letter from the Dominica Student Council in China.
Dominican students studying in China were safe. That was the first report from the government. Now, we have an open letter to the said government stating that our students want to come back home, just like our parrots, but they’re trapped in China. It always baffles me that such simple issues turn into boondoggles for this government and many others. Why not state that we were in contact with them and further decisions will be made, based on ongoing reports and recommendations from health officials and organizations?
When the story of the outbreak was first reported I posted on DNO that the government should bring home our students in Wuhan. I was repeatedly voted down. Now I’m reading some heartless comments here, no doubt by some of the very people who voted me down, that me me feel ashamed. You all forget it is our children that are out there? Maybe you do not understand, but when thousands of people are falling sick around you from a virus no one seems to understand, and when thousands are dying, and you are thousands of miles away from home, you think these children have it easy. Please, those of you making all these stupid comments, have a heart. I am sure you would not say that if your children were there. Let me repeat that the government should bring our students home, and quarantine them for the 14 days. It is the least they can do for the students and their worried families at home
Whilst I’m concern about the sick affecting those that are not,,there is still a lot that these guys can’t understand and do not know about the disease.Some folks get it milder than other whilst it’s fatal for some..Then the way it’s spreading folks might be looking in the direction of the students when it could just be coming from another direction..So with that said,the authority could send out a chartered aircraft with medical personals to pick them up and when they get home keep everybody in same venue quaratined for 3 week,time fly fast, 1 week more than the recommended 2 to be certain that all is well before sending them out in the public…I think that could work…
RAS BUTT,we do not need your advice.You are one of those ….. who wish the VIRUS was in DOMINICA.UWP HYPOCRITE,CROOK and TRAITOR.Since losing 18-3 you and your bunch have always wish BAD for Dominica.
Lin clown,
This is not politics. It is serious and because of threat to the citizenry, if nothing else, we must adopt an ‘all hands on deck policy’. the preservation of our health in our small island state is not a red, blue or green affair. There is no need for grandstanding. It is obvious that the government whom you blindly support, particularly the Minister of Health does not know what he is doing and lies from both corners of his mouth. We, reasonable Dominicans, are repeatedly embarrassed by what this buffoon is doing. The seriousness of the reality is coming to a head and we must exercise maturity.
Lin Clown, we can either heed intelligence or bask in ignorance, hoping that people will pity you! Review all my postings and you will realise that it is not about politics but it is based on the genuine love for my people from an individual who knows what he is talking about.
Critical Thinker,I agree with you.JAMIE you and your bunch of UWP IDIOTS said the PM’s son was not in China.Dr.Mc Intyre is responding to information given to him from credible sources.BLESSINGS called q95,MATT,and he said”Thank you Mr Louis Robinson for contributing to the SOCIAL ILLS of this country” MATT PELTIER replied “GOOD OBSERVATION”.
Shut up Austrie. Go back in the jungle!
this letter needs the students signature only then i may believe until then its just hear say
Evacuation of students from the heart of the virus can be disastrous for Dominica. These students are ok and does not pose any health risk to anyone right now.
To evacuate these students the infrastructure back home must be in place. The aircraft with the students must leave Wuhan and fly to either France, London, US or Germany for refueling without any one being allowed to disembark. After refueling that aircraft must fly to it’s final destination, Dominica.
A medical team must be on board along with the flight attendants.
Trump evacuated Americans and never thought about inherent risk. Right now the US is battling with the virus.
Receive supplies….yes….but to evacuate….no!!!! Evacuate to where???? Stay in Wuhan…please…wash hands and protect, clean surfaces….
How about evacuate to a safer city in China itself? Wuhan is on lockdown. Soon children will commit suicide God forbid. Our people are not accustomed to be under lockdown they come from a free country. Students in safer areas have to stay indoors as much as possible and they are still anxious, can you imagine the plight of those on ground zero in wuhan? just a mention of the name of the place messes with their head.
All you get Money? All you in Wuhan now all u want to come back. Stop crying and focus on staying indoors. Dominican student always like to be extra -writing media to say how bad they have it. It is a hard situation; but all u want to blame the government; the minister say all u healthy none of all you have coronaV. How the man know all you mental state the guy is not all you psychologist..i mean ComeOn.
Stay indoors and try to focus on staying healthy. Noah Ark is not coming ..OK. You are in the middle of a dangerous disease area…OK.. We feel for all you over their but the answer is not to come back to Dominica..
Maybe move all you to a new school in China far from Wuhan can be an option but you guys can’t expect to just land in Dominica on a private plane. Are you guys Nuts?? Jah forbid one of all you infected China is the best place to be infected right now. You don’t want to be in China Friendship right now with this disease.
All you get Money? All you in Wuhan now all u want to come back. Stop crying and focus on staying indoors. Dominican student always like to be extra -writing media to say how bad they have it. It is a hard situation; but all u want to blame the government; the minister say all u healthy none of all you have coronaV. How the man know all you mental state the guy is not all you psychologist..i mean ComeOn.
Stay indoors and try to focus on staying healthy. Noah Ark is not coming ..OK. You are in the middle of a dangerous disease area…OK.. We feel for all you over their but the answer is not to come back to Dominica..
Maybe move all you to a new school in China far from Wuhan can be an option but you guys can’t expect to just land in Dominica on a private plane. Are you guys Nuts?? Jah forbid one of all you infected China is the best place to be infected right now. You don’t want to be in China Friendly right now. with this disease.
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/update-with-video-govt-sends-cash-to-assist-dominican-students-in-wuhan-city-amid-deadly-virus-scare/
Shaka zulu recommendations was to evacuate students January 29th piece. Shaka is again giving a solution of taking care of our folks. Dominica need a revolution cause that is the only way to solve all the BS.
listen you, if they are removed from Wuhan they need to be placed somewhere else in China. I’m sorry but they ain’t coming here. “Emotional and psychological distress” of a few people is no reason to expose a small poor country like ours to this disease. How do we even know for sure that they are not infected? There is stuff going around that the virus could have an asymptomatic incubation period up to 24 DAYS and with the chaos going on in China I doubt they have the ability to thoroughly screen everybody. That is why there is quarantine there.
if it was to vote , they would find a way to get them in DOMINICA for elections, BUT for COVID-19 you are on your own.
JD said it best in sound…. TAKE YOUR WOOD AND DOH COMPLAIN..
DOH COMPLAIN
How is it the the deputy commissioner son is back here in dominica walking all over possi and the rest of the students are still up there.
Don’t complain… That’s what allu voted for.. take all u hood.. the opposition pleaded with you all for a chance to run the country .. somehow you fools believe that is only the labour currupt party alone that can run a country.. only that currupt bofoonry party that can send people to study overseas.. I mean u people in Dominica are bloody fools..
doh complain during december the talk was coming down to vote to protect allu scholarship cause apprently if the govt changed ….everything with fall down ….sooo i have no remorse ….allu know is liars and cheats allu dealing with look they saying allu okay when allu know allu not okay ….OKAY
Yeah I support you 10000000%. Let hem stay exactly where they at. Take all wood and doh complain. Do like sheep, every time it hurts say eahhh, eahhh! God doh like ugly because now I hear them say the planes they had in December eh flying no more
. Them plane do have gas. Labourrrrrrrrrrr! You like your PM now?
You are aware that not all students came down to vote in December right?
Firstly, I empathize with the Dominican students at the epicenter of the situation at this time. I strongly support their advocacy for their supplies at this time as it relates to their food, water and protective gear – all of the items needed for them to remain safe from this deadly virus.
Secondly, I want to send a very clear message to the students in China, YOU MUST NOT EVACUATE FROM CHINA AT THIS TIME. You must remain in China and do not travel, traveling will risk your catching of the disease. Also, no one should go to Wuhan unless it is for tracing or medical purposes to get a cure for the disease. Also, if anyone of you have the disease and it is in its early incubation then you risk spreading it to your fellow Dominicans. Do not be selfish, your situation is a challenge but you have to think of the bigger picture. Stay put in China please we cannot risk you coming over here!
Pathetic. Dominica has the responsibility to it citizens not China. You are seriously calling those kids selfish????? You guys are some sick people. This is what you vall passive abandonment and cowardly crap on your part and anyone who thinks like you. These kids should have been evacuated and arrangements made to quarantine them closer to home until they are better. Only when is you or your kids in the situation you would see their plight. Pathetic set of folks you guys are.
When you “evacuate” or allow them to travel like what happened in the US the risks are much higher to spreading the disease. Let them stay where they are, if it was my son this is the same advice I would give him. When there is an epidemic in a land and you are trapped therein you stay there, also, if the land contains an epidemic you do not travel to that land.
It is a challenging situation but it is better that they stay where they are.
My heart goes out to my Dominican brothers and sisters studying in China. At one time I was out in the west studying….far away from my family and loved ones. You guys have no idea how concerned we Dominican patriots are about your plight. Be courageous and take comfort in the fact that you have hundreds maybe thousands of us praying for your best outcome.
These viruses come from animals people. De original Corona virus was found in bats people.
Ever had bat broth!
This thing is working de minds of de people like PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE!!!
We pray for all of you all safety.
DNO show us the orginal letter stating these statements
ADMIN: The letter has been added to the article.
Here is an opportunity for CARICOM to prove its worth. Charter a flight from Bdos to china collect all students bring them home to a 14 day quarantine at the baracks near airport in bdos use our CARICOM emergency diseases control team, then send them home after test and monitoring prove they healthy. Avoiding the virus does not prove you can handle.
GREAT PLAN! Then two weeks later cases reported in Barbados and then it starts to spread. Genius!
The virus is going to make its way to the Caribbean whether we like it or not. We not in 1950 and the world is mingling to fast and to easy to avoid something you cannot see. Eventually there will be a vaccine and this will be in history book but abandoning our citizens when trapped in a situation tells our character as a people. That is why i will never accept anything from our gov or any gov. The excuse about sacrificing yourself to save the inevitable is nothing but cowardly. Then doctors should just put all sick folks in one area and dont visit for fear of putting their family at risk. When our folks are sent out by gov the must ensure they do everything to get folks safe. COVID 19 kill 2000 from over 69 thousand inffected. We all have to die at some point. The spread is no different from annual flu. Cannot stop the inevitable
Excellent article DNO. AT LAST A PIECE OF good journalism. Efforts to authenticate the letter, very good. Effort to reach authorities in dominica, excellent, though not reached, but you tried. We need reporting like that again.
On February 27, exactly six days ago our ?(Dr). IRVINE MCINTYRE again lied to the country in his capacity as minister of health. I warned the nation that his comments on the state of health of the Dominican citizens could not be trusted, I am not gloating, but see it there now!!
I have called for the removal from office of Dr. Mac Intyre who from his utterances and plans does not seem to be really a Doctor. Has anyone seen his credentials? are they genuine? Please save Dominica the embarrassment and resign!!
I truly hope that SARS-coV-2, the virus which is causing worldwide havoc does not visit Dominica.
I do not wish to generate panic but our MOH has repeatedly shown a tendency to mislead, (1) lied about students in china; (2) lied about the degree of readiness for SARS-coV-2, (3) lied about D/Ca ready to deal with SARS-coV-2 when the world still does not understand the disease. (4) Has he also lied about his training? (5) Is he a pathological liar? D/Ca I pray for thee.
Even the government Quarantine the students for 14 days, the most important thing is, they are home in their beloved country, amongs their family and friends
This is very sad. We need assurances of fact that our citizen🇩🇲 students, in China, biogenic needs will be met with urgency
We cannot risk it for these students to come down and then DNO will broadcast that the Government brought the virus to Dominica, you all are wicked and despicable. My Government is not stupid.
Not only YOUR government is stupid but you too. Infact, you are 10 times more stupid for voting for these gangsters. What do you get out of it?
Hello…well Action Lady Mia help out students, apparently they are not being paid attention to since all the children of the powers that be are out. This is heart breaking. But again 5 more years, but were never told of what…shameful. Dr. McIntyre, you have build your reputation….get a grip and get out of this.
Sorry for you guys,Did the PM evacuate his son yet?WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
His son is not in China, hasn’t been for a while, before corona