Thirty-five years of Cuban scholarships for Dominicans

cuba-dominicaNovember 30, 2014 marked the 35th anniversary of the Cuban scholarship programme in Dominica.

The Embassy of Cuba and the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates, in recognition of this milestone have planned a panel discussion to review the impact that this programme has had on Dominica.

GIS News spoke with president of the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates, Severin McKenzie.

McKenzie explained that the programme started as a form of assistance from the Cuban Government to Dominica after Hurricane David in 1979.

“At that time, Dominica received quite a bit of international assistance but the Cubans were the only ones who offered scholarships to Dominican youth as their way of assisting Dominica.

“At that time, the Cubans were quite clear; they said that they wanted to train Dominican young people whom, after the crisis, would come back to Dominica in a few years to help in the development of the country.”

Over the past three decades hundreds of students have benefitted from the programme in a number of fields, with medicine being the most sought-after. Of course the island has benefitted immensely from the programme.

“It, in fact, has changed the landscape of professionals in Dominica. Iin my case for example, when I left for Cuba in 1981, as far as I recall, there were no Dominican-born architects practicing in Dominica. Now we have about 10 Cuban-trained architects on island. I think the most significant impact is in the field of medicine. We have quite a number of Cuban-trained medical doctors in all fields. Some have gone to specialize and others have remained in general practice,” McKenzie explained.

Hon. Dr. Kenneth Darroux, Minister for Health and the Environment and a medical doctor; Attorney-At-Law and Political Economist, Julien Prevost, and Dr. Worrel Sanford, Dermatologist who are all Cuban trained will form the panel. The discussion will be moderated by Cuban Ambassador to Dominica, H.E Juan Carlos Frometa de la Rosa.

They will objectively analyse the transformation that this programme has brought to Dominica.

The discussion is scheduled for Thursday April 16th at the Fort Young Hotel from 7:00pm. The Embassy of Cuba and the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates extends an invitation to the general public to join the discussion.

The 35 years of the Cuban scholarship programme will be recognized with the theme ’35 Years of Cuban Scholarships: Its Impact on the Socio-Economic Development of Dominica.’

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15 Comments

  1. REAL!!!!
    April 15, 2015

    Cuba needs to provide us scholarship in Agricultural Engineering and management.
    These are the skills Dominica needs to iimplement smart agriculture with excellent management so it can sustain it local production and provide crops for exports to drive revenues.

    Cuba is the best country to learn from as it fed itself on Agriculture for 50 years with a USA embargo and survived.

    The era for more scholarship in Medicine is not critical anymore. we have enough doctor’s on island.

  2. proud cuban graduate
    April 15, 2015

    Viva la Revolucion Cubana!

  3. ATKINSON
    April 15, 2015

    Hey what if your child was born in America :mrgreen:

  4. Titiwi
    April 14, 2015

    It does not say who issued that press release. Anyway, I am grateful for all the help we have received from Cuba, especially in the health and education field but that does not mean I have to sing the praises of a one-party, undemocratic system that is run by one family in the name of equality for all and knows no free press. Lift the embargo by all means but also free political prisoners and allow political opposition.

  5. Cuban grad.
    April 14, 2015

    Viva Dominica! Viva Cuba!

  6. Apple
    April 14, 2015

    How many student return from the develop Country and contribute to the development of this island?

  7. faceup
    April 14, 2015

    People might say otherwise, but my kid aint going to study in Cuba for me to boost about it, What??? I sweat blood and tears they will study in UWI or in the Great USA

    • April 14, 2015

      If you must export your kids for university, send them to Canada. It’s cheaper than the “great” USA, the schools are just as good, and the Canadians are much friendlier than the Americans to graduates who want to stay in the country.

      • Observer
        April 15, 2015

        Denizen you again. ( Export) are you being critical here?Stay out of our affairs denizen FoersterWhy not keep ur opinion to ur ilk & nationals?

      • April 15, 2015

        As always, you say nothing about actual ideas and are safely disregarded.

    • out of south city
      April 14, 2015

      How many scholarship programmes has the U.S.A. offered to Dominica? Do you think that they have our best interest at heart? It doesn’t matter how educated you are once you want to further your studies in the U.S.A., they won’t even accept some of the classes that you have taken.
      In spite of how some people view Cuba, they have been good to us. Let us not be ungrateful.

      HOTEP (PEACE)

    • reality
      April 15, 2015

      So, you’re ashamed to let your child study in Cuba? Do a little survey, it won’t take long. Cuban graduates are running this country.

    • annoyed
      April 15, 2015

      stupid comment!

    • Dominican
      April 15, 2015

      The people who can afford to send their children to UWI and USA are mature and classy enough not to talk that level of rubbish on DNO. People with your conduct are the ones with children in Moroco and are online everyday begging the PM for the children stipen to reach early or they will die hungry. Respect where people chose to send their children to school and shut it, low class idiot.

  8. goodie
    April 14, 2015

    One day we will look at China the same way. They were suppose to be people that would eat us alive. USA make your mark in the region.

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