PM Skerrit warns students in Trinidad that sacrifices will be necessary

The Prime Minister shakes hands with a student in Trinidad

As Dominica continues to reel from the effects of Hurricane Maria, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has warned students in Trinidad that some sacrifices will be necessary as they continue their studies.

He said Dominica has been through a very tough time since the hurricane but promised the students that the government will do everything to assist them in completing their studies.

“I anticipate that you have had some serious challenges and are understandably concerned about the weeks and months ahead. I do not wish to go off making fair promises at this time, but I want to say to you that Dominica needs an educated workforce now, more than ever and that the government that I lead will do all in its power to assist you in furthering and completing your education,” he stated at a function on Saturday.

The Prime Minister told the students that they should not worry about their parents back home.

“They will be alright. We are committed to rallying together and working to fix Dominica. I want you to focus on your studies and graduating on time,” he stated.

He stated that some sacrifices are going to be necessary and some adjustments have to be made.

“I am here to say to you also, that sacrifices will be necessary,” he remarked. “No Dominican, at home or abroad, can resume and continue life as if September 18th did not happen. Therefore, I want you to consider the adjustments you can make at the personal level, to minimise the strain on your parents and on the government.”

He added, “Think of the cuts you can make in your spending and in your socializing. I know this is Trinidad and Tobago, but the time for partying and fun will come, when once you are qualified, working and able to afford such. For the time being, please let’s contain spending to essentials.”

Skerrit said to the students the government wants them to succeed.

“Rest assured that the government of Dominica is committed to you attaining your education. We want you to succeed. We will work with friends and well-wishers here in Trinidad to minimise your inconveniences and needs, but in the final analysis, the government of Dominica will take full responsibility for your being here and will assist as best we can…” he said.

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16 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    November 30, 2017

    Just follow the leader and don’t worry about your parents. Follow the example , make the money and you can buy your doctorate, no need to study hard.

  2. I'M NOT A PRIME MISTAKE!!!
    November 29, 2017

    :?: This immoral rogue prime mistake has no moral authority to advise anyone on making sacrifice! He has not lived by such example but rather added a vain woman to the fleecing of the treasury!!!

  3. marie-claire R Skerrit
    November 29, 2017

    And the question to PM is what sacrifices have you made? You’re the one with the millions, private jet, kid at expensive school condo in NYC all these businesses and monies all over the place. Going to Disney land etc. So my question again to you is what sacrifices are or have you made because you can’t tell the people to go right but you going left

    • Me-Aloe
      November 29, 2017

      @marie-claire R Skerrit….this is not your DAMN business as to what the prime minister does in his private life. He is working for his money ..Ain’t it?

  4. Zor Sot
    November 29, 2017

    Skerrit just cannot spend three weeks straight in Dominica…..but I doh understand that!!!!!

    This man just gallivanting about the place…..someone tell me please, why was he in Trinidad????

    IT JUST CANNOT POSSIBLY BE FOR THIS,HECK NO!!!!!
    The economy of the Dominica is in shambles and the man just their spending tax payers money to go on some popularity spree….. WHAT WAS HE DOING IN TRINIDAD!!!! WHY DOES HE LEAVE ISLAND EVERY TWO TO THREE WEEKS????

    all who come here and give thumbs down to commences questioning Skerrit, all those who have so foolish explanation ready to dish out, PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOVE, PLEASE

    • marie-claire R Skerrit
      November 29, 2017

      Its called a publicity H…u know the rest. he like to be in the peoples eye

    • Me-Aloe
      November 29, 2017

      He is all over looking for money to feed the hungry

  5. My name
    November 29, 2017

    Always blaming the Storms

  6. Do Take their number
    November 28, 2017

    Here is some lyrics of take “the number song” I hope parents share with their daughters:
    Verse 2
    I wouldn’t like nothing to happen to you
    Because I don’t know what I’ll really do
    Sacrificing to give you education
    So that you will grow up to be something in time to come
    Your Daddy dead and is me alone
    After school, please try and find yourself home
    I talking to you you sucking your teeth
    But is who in the kitchen does feel the heat

    Chorus:
    So any time you hear that your school over
    And you get a drop with a motor car
    [Take the number] Carol [Take the number]
    Whether is Mazda, Corolla Mark II
    Darling, one thing I beg you to do
    [Take the number] You hear? [Take the number]
    Don’t study colour, that could always change
    Once you find the driver look strange
    [Take the number] Carol [Take the number].

    Remember they could be preachers, farmers, politicians, teachers, nationals of DA or none nationals etc. PLEASE DON’t take their number and quickly report…

  7. Do Take their number
    November 28, 2017

    In addition to what PM has already told the students, here is my warning especially the female ones: p[lease young ladies be careful not to give your number or take the number of anyone regardless of their nationality or position because some abusers like to use situations like this to abuse people’s children as their concubine, when they know they are away from parents, they are in distress and are desperate. DO NOT take anyone’s number even if they would tell you if you need anything call them instead of your parents. I know “The Prime Minister told the students that they should not worry about their parents back home” but I wish he had also stress the importance of calling their parents if anyone whether from Trinidad or Dominica calls them and makes any personal request or promise to them. In the 80’s king Scrunter of Trinidad wrote a song about “Take the number” with a very strong warning to young girls but today I just want to say DONT TAKE THEIR NUMBER

  8. Shaka Zulu
    November 28, 2017

    No country is developed without sacrificing, no success is attained without sacrifice, life is all about making sacrifices one way or another. PM dont have to warn anybody about making sacrifices for thier education. What he needs to warn them is about begging and the mindset of dependency, laziness, deception, greed and the potential for power to corrupt. I would lime ro ask, how many of these students are studying climate resilience, landslide mitigation, coastal restoration, renewable energy development for small island states, disaster management in the Caribbean, sustainability development in small islands? Are we continuing to educate our youth for US market or are we preparing them to develope future Caribbean. The universities in the Caribbean need to rethink its degree programs and the PM would do better funding some engineering professor specializing in field related to developmental challenges we face in Caribbean so we shape minds for tomorrow not yesterday.

    • Rose
      November 28, 2017

      “the PM would do better funding some engineering professor specializing in field related to developmental challenges we face in Caribbean so we shape minds for tomorrow not yesterday.”… Serioulsy, clearly you yourself lack the vision of development ……development involves more than just infrastructural changes……… I would like to think many of these students are getting a well rounded education which inlcudes courses relating to these said area sclimate resilience, landslide mitigation, coastal restoration, renewable energy development for small island states, disaster management in the Caribbean, sustainability development in small islands?, however for focus to be placed on these areas they are only being offered as a specialized degree specifcially masters and upwards . What he needs to do is present students/parents with alternatives for securing themselves financially so they dont have to rely on government assistance.

      • Shaka Zulu
        November 29, 2017

        I fully agree with your last statement. Thats also essential.

    • Man bites Dogs
      November 29, 2017

      Shaka, you should have saved these words for workers pretty boy opposition leader that comment has all the hallmarks of Workers Party opposition leader :lol: no doubt about it pall.

  9. dee
    November 28, 2017

    You mean thats what he go T & T to tell de students,
    ”please lets contain spending to essentials”
    weh weh weh , what happen to modern technology , Maria take that too .
    where next ? Mr. Dr. P M.

    • Shameless
      November 28, 2017

      I glad for you. Allu doh see nothing yet from the Punjabe Doctor. Every chance he gets is foreign he running taking a mini vacation on allu money :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . All that talk from him should be treated as donkey manure. That man does not have a clue but that is what Dcans wanted so they getting it right up where the sun does not shine :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . Allu like your PM huh? Laybarrrrrrrrrrr :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      Assertive like the rod of Moses! :twisted:

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