Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has announced the government will commit to meeting the operating cost of the Alpha Centre, a school for children with special needs.
He made the announcement during a visit to the insitution on Friday, March 7, 2014.
He stated the commitment to the Alpha Centre would begin immediately and will be for an indefinite period.
Previously government had provided a $5,000 a month subvention to the institution.
“I feel that these institutions need to be given greater prominence in society because of the work that you do. We can help do so by ensuring you don’t go every month with a sponsor sheet looking for funding. So you will be at ease to know that every month you get the resources to cover your cost,” Skerrit stated.
The prime minister also announced a special grant for the individual students of the Alpha Centre. The grant is to go towards covering transportation and uniform cost for the students.
This is in keeping with government’s policy to provide the necessary resources which ensure that all students are able to attend school, according to the prime minister.
Jean Jacob, Member of the Board of Directors of the Alpha Centre, expressed gratitude to the prime minister for his visit.
She welcomed his announcements, stating that they will go a long way in ensuring the school fulfils its mandate to help children with special needs.
During his visit Skerrit observed the various programmes available at the school while interacting with the students and faculty.
The Alpha Centre was founded in June 1974 and will celebrate it 40th anniversary later this year.
The school has a student population of 37, ranging from age six to 19.
There are 11 staff members; nine full-time and two part-time.
MR PM.
it is a wonderful place for you to start with your own rehab so the people can come see you with the many hugs and kisses that will be coming your way . i belive its time you take a rest from distorying this beautiful country . start your rehab at the alpha center sir in the end you will be very suprise that you should have gone there 8 years ago .
thats all you like…..using peoples unfortunate circumstances to gloss yourself with shine.
I hope is not only now u suddenly discover that we have an alpha center……i dont care about your glossy image…..stop concentrating on yourself.
You flying daggers, lies and misinformation against Fontaine trying to dirty his image then next day you going and hug children at Alpha Center for penance sake………..that is not an expression of love, longtime we watching your showmanship, like a pope or something
DLP/Astaphan/Aaron/Parbel led by de vanglorious Skerrit always find it politically expedient to climb on de back on some deprived section of de population to purchase some credibility for people to see you as GOD!!!!!!
There are many gods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All these years Alpha Center operating is only now you finding out about their operations. This vikie vie leadership thing is so sickening. Oh my God help us
Watch People
This is what our PM needs. A good grilling and then we might be better informed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsSgLQgzI8
There should be some level of transparency so that the people will not remain ignorant of the happenings.It is the duty of the Government to reassure its people……
There is no pleasing Dominicans, my God what can any body do right. Stop living in politics land and be real. To you honourable P M with great respect keep it going do not listen to the peoles idle talk. God will richly bless you and your family, Dominicans look back in the past wheh Dominica was behind Gods back we are in front now.
I reside out of the country and what I have read on DNO of D/ca’s progress especially in the past few months, I am impressed and happy about that.
I am happy for D/cans, the poor and vulnerable that today they are being financially assisted with better housing (more to come) and are enjoying life much better than previously.
I will always state that D/ca has come a long way and much better in every respect than in those former years prior to DLP’s government. So much have occurred and with more to come. There is no doubt, today, D/cans (at least the appreciative majority) are more proud of their country, confident about it and of themselves.
The non-appreciative ones must change their outlook and mannerisms. They must appreciate the good that he does. I feel in my heart and mind the PM is really trying to please D/cans and make them happy and comfortable in their land. It is in him to do this. Hats off to him. He deserves the compliment.
Dominicans are never happy with what they has. Out of all Prime Minister it has had since I was a child. The only ones who has tried to help Dominica was Pierre Charles and now Skerrit and they are still complaining.
These people rather leave in the dark ages.
doh hailez hurray until they get it, because that man already promise so much and never deliver..
but its a good idea, time will tell
Is there a money tree growing in D/ca? To my knowledge money does not grow on trees. It has to come from somewhere.
If more students study diligently and graduate, there could be more jobs, more businesses and economic growth. Give this a thought.
Let me further inform you. How many politicians and worldwide at that who promised and could not deliver, some, through no fault of their own? The world is full of them.
Give the PM a break. He has done much more for D/ca than any government.
As a national, this is what you should know in case you are not aware of it. For the progress of their country, good, caring nationals will support their government and provide encouragement; not otherwise. Offer feasible suggestions and fewer criticisms.
If you are an adult, the rest of the good deeds you should comprehend. You owe something to your country to enhance it and not the other way around.
skerrit cannot even pay those part scholarship students tuition overseas and give civil servant a proper salary.
dominicans mister doh tired fool allu.
Papa Nwel on the move again. Is that how things work? Skerritt goes to visit a home, a school, a church function, a Village council inauguration, or…….. and suddenly, $$$$ promised, right there. Dominicans and institutions like alpha Centre would be no more in existence., so Skerritt wants us to believe, without he handing out.
None of those spontaneous givings from our Treasury will fool us anymore. Whose money is it, nuh? Designed to prop up sympathy, amidst all those issues of corruption and bad governance facing the country, unemployment, diplomatic passport sales, secret deals, quick enrichment, debt to Venezuela, etc. etc. etc.
Do not be to quick to jump on the ban wagon in response to the UWP slogan for change. We do not want regressive chance to bring us back to the plantation days. We want forward looking ,modern and progressive changes that the Labour Party policies demonstrates.
Master stroke of a move… too long overdue. It’s a pity there’s no commendation coming from the Blue corner. Guess it’s not something one can oppose without appearing to be opposing just for the sake of it.
Mr PM . This is wonderful indeeded and we will love that you continue the good work of the lord . its for that reason the pastor randy has been calling on you sir . he has been calling on you for the past 4 years telling you that god has given him a message through him for you and that he will like the whole world to listen to the good word of the lord which will give you all the blessing for the many wonderful things that you have done for the country. SO why are you hiding for the word of the lord sir . one thing i know it that you have given millions to the people and they are still very poor , somthing very wrong with your money. so check MR RANDY PLEASE .
Stop blaming the government for everyone and for the condition of the poor. Some of them have not completed school. In those days they did not care and to complete school and to seek employment. Are you blaming the government for their predicament?
Some have had children out of wedlock and some with dead beat, absentee dads who did not support their children. Is the government to be blamed for that?
Let me give you an example that you will never be aware of. The poor receive financial assistance. This is for their well-being. It is not to get them rich. The little money that the government can afford to give to each one, amounts to a lot monthly and annually.
The poor could try to help themselves, in that put the money to good use and try to save a few dollars monthly. It adds up in the long run.
Those who have property could grow fruits and vegetables, especially vegetables. They could also grow herbs for their personal consumption and/or to sell.
People must help themselves instead of being dependent and overly dependent on the government and cease blaming the government for their dilemmas.
Why is Dominica Placing children in institutions, Dominica is seregateing Children , these children have the right to be treated like anyone else, everychild as needs, and should be treated as an invidivial in their owned right. Dominica is sugregateing these children because they have special needs. The goverment need to invest money into the mainstream schools, ie: support teachers , so these children can have the opportunity to attend these schools and not be isolated from every day life. By placing these children in institution, you are saying they are differnet from their peers and have no place in sociaty and they will grow up being different from others , and be islolated from everyday life, they should be given the opportunity and be a part of the community. Dominica should invest in these children, by training staff, and provide placements in mainstream schools, not in institutions, and research other countries resources, please don’t exclude these children from everyday life by placing them in institutions, and giving these children a complex and isolated for the rest of their life. Dominica needs to move with the times, come on Dominica do your research , and move with the times and use the word institution, use Resource Centre.
You mean ‘segregating’? You are wrong and so is your manner of thinking. You made a statement that you know nothing about.
It is not segregating. This environment is better for them in order to properly take care of them and meet their needs. They are among their likewise peers where they will not be maltreated and laughed at. You know how some ‘normal’ children could act towards those whom they deem to be abnormal. It would not be fair for those children to be in such a normal setting, at least for now.
Furthermore, your little mind cannot fathom that the parents who must work for a living and cannot afford to stay home and to pay a helper to take care of them.
A few years ago I recall reading on DNO about a young boy who was supposed to be taken care of by relatives. He was incarcerated and tied up in the home. Did you ever read this?
Therefore, the government is doing them a favour by taking them from those parents and guardians be it during the day. It also gives the parents an opportunity to live a normal life as they also visit their children in the home.
The children have an opportunity to a learning process and better than they could at home or in a regular school.
Toronto has government-operated/non-profit institutions and/or schools for children with special needs.
I know of one where parents must bring their children and take them home at the end of the day. Consider the strain and stress on the parents who are employed who have to travel for hours both way and to their home.
Prior to commenting and criticizing the government as some of you do, you should first have given this a good thought.
Both anonymous and simply the truth have a point to some extent. Special needs children can be mainstreamed but for now Dominica is not ready and doesn’t have the resources for that. Mainstreaming disabled children the country must provide special ed teachers, at least 3 aides to assist. They would also need to provide PT. OT and SP therapies. Etc etc. . The children we label as normal will not laugh at them, first educating the people of Dominica (everyone) will assist with the transition. Many of these children have the possibility to obtain higher level education and succeed in life. For example, I had the pleasure to communicate with a young man who has cerebral palsy and held a masters degree. His way of communicating was using an augmentative and alternative device by using his toes. He also held the position of president for an organization and happily married.
I cannot believe that a few Ugly Wicked People
would critisize a loving act of compassion meted out to the mentally challenged children of Dominica.
For every unkind word against our PM, may he have tens of thousands of blessings from his head to his toe. May he remain PM of Dominica for a very very long time. God bless you my PM, your cabinet and your family.
As the saying, “These take the cake.” They are also narrow-minded.
As heard on a U.S. Catholic Radio Station on the Divine Mercy Program: “A bad man steals and/or kills. An evil man does his best to destroy the good in others.”
This is what they are doing, destroying or trying to destroy all the good that the PM does. It is so apparent. God will take care of them.
@ Alice, I would like to see your pretty face and that of your family members, then maybe you can go ahead and call people ugly.
That lil boy faces sums up every viewer face when they hear skerrit name.
awwwww we love our pm!
the childrens’ hospital
This PM is just into campaigning and trying to make people feel that they so care. Just using poor people for ends… Just pure PR, so when he goes about being like the saviour of Dominica, people wont dear ask him important questions about the economy,and even his views on whats going on around the world, and issues of corruption in Dominica and around the world. I think this PM needs some serious journalists to grill him throughly so as to get him to speak on important matter. Recently, the Primier of Cayman Inslands was on Hard Talk BBC, one would like the hard talk host to hold him under some pressuring questions. This PM is just walking around as if Dominica is his football field….
And what’s the force on giving Alpha some money? its not his money, its Tax payers money. This is a one man show government and a set of yes men and women… whatever this PM does doesn’t impress but exposes his cheap and rumshop political style…… Not impressssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Hope He will soonn give a big money to all the struggling youths in Dominica…….
There is no news so he wanna make news and pose for pictures ………..
Big up to you Stuckky.
I watched that interview and thought the exactly same thing. That’s the thing, when Dominicans talk they don’t realise that its a big world out there and there are so many unanswered questions by the PM.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsSgLQgzI8
To Shim
I have worked for these people and what I am saying is we would benefit if someone from such an organisation would be able to train some people on the island for a year. This move would benefit everyone involved
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=wirral+autistic+society
Kudos to the dedicated and compassionate staff of the Alpha center who provide unselfish care of these children on a daily basis. The operative phrase here is that is “committed to provide Support”! The million dollar question is how did Skerritt think they were providing for the children’s needs prior to his sudden realization that his ship is sinking? It stinks to use the children as a political ploy? Where have you been for the last decade?
Shame on you to make such a statement. Spoiling everything. Everything stinks for you. Everything is a criticism and negativism. Surely you are an educated person. Can you not do better than make such a comment as that?
Much criticism and no assistance forthcoming from those who do. You could do your part by starting a fundraising to assist them.
Better late than never> The PM is doing something. The UWP has a lot of show, but no go.
What have you been doing for the last 50 years.
When Lennox and his new UWP team bullied Mrs Alix Boyd from being the first lady President, and when he tried to use children to boycott Independence IT WAS A POLITICAL PLOY. The PM is just doing his job.
One thing my PM knows how to set vote catching traps eh boy. He went to the catholic church and won them over by his giving. Went to the Christian churches especially those Pentecostals and he gave them AC, cash, and cars duty free and won them. He went to the state college and won them by his giving. He went to the private sector and recruited employees for them and government paying their salaries. Boy my PM, although all of these activities only took place this year, what is certain is that people might forget about your last year and concentrate on the last 13 years of misery and will still vote for a change you know.
What misery? You want misery? Go to the third world countries. Know what is presently occurring in Russia, the Ukraine. This is misery.
You are too fortunate to be in Dominica and so are other D/cans. You have all the freedom in the world. Appreciate what you received and what you presently have. This is gratitude and to God most of all.
Is there an education minister in Dominica?
Who say our “PM” does not show LOVE? That’s a real politician.LABOURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
D.N.O. post this comment next week.
Note how the little girl hugged him and how happy she is and the little boy laughing. This is a beautiful scene.
Does everything have to be political….Remember that it is taxpayers money that fund such social programmes….How does labour power fit into the equation?…Your comment just goes to shows that the PM is doing this gesture for recognition a.k.a political votes…Such programmes must be supported by a government policy and executed by a government agency…however I am sure that the Minister of Education heard about this move in the media..jst as the rest of us…shame! Shame..Shame PM…stop trying to buy even the physical and mentally challenged…
This is a great move!I have been longing to hear something like this for a while now. Let’s hope that this will go to the furtherance of the work done by the few people who dedicate their lives to assist those of us with disabilities.
You know, everything takes time. Nothing happens before its time. The saying, “Take time to do good.” Plans must be set with time and patience.
Very good move Mr PM. You continue to show care for all the sectors of society.
We will continue to pray for Bro Raymond Pinard Philogene and his staff for God’s help.
SMA old boy, I will definitely do that. Thanks for acknowledging my dearest brother, love him!!!!!
“Will Commit” is the operative phrase here! Kudos to the dedicated staff who care for the children every day with compassion and love! We need to encourage them for doing their jobs against all odds and with very limited resources. The million dollar question is what did they do all of this time that they went without while others enjoyed the spoils of the passport money. Skerrit, really too little to late! You should have supported these kids a long time ago!
This type of comment will get you nowhere, happy and peaceful. What you spew it is exactly what you will receive, nothing more.
Alpha Center is in existence for many years as well as this Government in office for fourteen years, its election time so all the goodies are coming after election everyone will go to hell
Great move by the Prime Minister. Thank you!!!The state must support on a greater level the vulnerable children particularly in this case where the infrastructure has already been put in place by the Roman Catholic CHurch (with government assistance) and generous local and overseas benefactors including our local private sector.
Good is good. This should have been done years ago, these children deserve no less. Good to see the Govt. working. At least I hope it is the Govt. and not just one man whim.
good move pm keep upthe good work
I must admit that this is something positive by the Government and anyone with any heart should rise above politics and commend the Government for such move.
In addition to the mentally insane and the elderly, children with special needs – should be taken care of by the state. Even if they are in the physical care of the parents there should be programs and a ‘special center’ to ensure that the best possible care is given to these precious ones.
It should be mandatory. I would like to say a very special thank you and bouquets to the caring people who have for a number of years operated the Alpha center single handedly.
This is a welcome move and I am hoping the PM or rather the ministry of social services will take this a few steps further to include training for parents of challenged kids and to sensitise the public as well.
We welcome the gesture mister PM. Too late shall be your cry….”Time to Go” and ” Change is a Must”
Non-appreciative person, eh? Too bad for you is the cry.
Now THAT’S the way to do it!
So they promise college 1million and up to know they yet to receive the money. Stop trying to fool people and call the election now. Skerro must go
Not even for special needs kids you can be positive, what a shame.
What a caring PM! The people of Dominica will show their appreciation on Election Day! Wonderful!
everything have to be political? Its a welcomed move and very very very long overdue!
So that same move couldn’t be made last year Eben u brain wash to
When will some of you learn the difference between Government and Party. It’s the Government, from tax payers money, which is coming forward, not the Labour Party. SMH
Excellent gesture Prime Minister and the government must continue to support the most vulnerable. Maybe a good idea would be to employ someone from the UK or the US to train staff for a year or so. In doing so they could give these vulnerable kids the best possible care.
I know some of you might be asking, so is there no one in Dominica who can train people? There might be but people from these countries would have a lot more professional experience inn doing things the right way and they would know the best international practices. It is a win win situation especially for these vulnerable souls
“There might be but people from these countries would have a lot more professional experience inn doing things the right way and they would know the best international practices. It is a win win situation especially for these vulnerable souls.”
Yes, your ignorance is alarming!
what is so ignorant about the quote? A lot of people in Dominica, though educated do things ‘vie-ke-vie’. I say yes, get some outside experience to come in and put some modules in place to allow these children protection and peace in an environment where they can thrive!
Shim Shim Shim
Small minds discuss people and great minds discuss ideas. I am guessing your mind is the size of a microbe my friend.
Nothing more to say
There is more to it than meets the eyes. I know someone who was trained to take care of children with special needs. There are a few of them in Canada. I was informed, this work is no easy matter. It requires much compassion and patience. This would be someone who could work with them but is not a D/can.
This is awesome! Thank you.