Staff at the Dominica State College (DSC) say their protest actions will not cease until their issues are properly addressed by the relevant authorities.
On May 10, 2021,faculty and staff of the DSC said they were forced to take industrial action over their shared grievances regarding working conditions, the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement with the staff’s union in order to address the discrepancies in contracts, and the reversal of the decrease in the base salary from $4000 to $3200, among a host of other concerns which they’ve had since 2014.
The employees said following multiple conversations and meetings over the last seven years, the faculty and staff are disappointed with the management’s failure to negotiate in good faith.
With no other recourse, they gathered on the DSC compound where they intended to stage their action but were escorted out by members of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) and security personnel at the institution.
The employees were told that they had revoked their employment and that their services had been withdrawn.
Dedicated to the cause and armed with their placards, the DSC staff gathered outside the premises where they made their voices heard.
“For too long we have been silent and waiting for improvements at the college but only the staff and the students are made to suffer so now we stand up,” one lecturer told Dominica News Online (DNO).
“We love the students in our care and we are passionate about our job here but we have exercised a lot of patience with the administration and authorities after Maria but we feel now is the time to take action.”
“We need to bring back the college to a semblance of order and a conducive environment not only for the staff but more importantly for the students so this action is not only for ourselves.”
In full solidarity with the DSC staff, Thomas Letang, General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) which represents staff at the DSC, said the dispute centers on the failure by the DSC president and Cabinet to properly address the employees’ concerns.
“I must say representing the staff at the DSC has been a nightmare as it has been one of the worst that we have experienced and I can say that for a fact,” Letang told members of the media at the protest.
He said over the years, the Union and the employees have witnessed “serious” violation of the labour laws of Dominica as the institution is being run and managed by what he claims is “one man” for the past two years in the absence of a functioning board of governors.
“As I speak to you now, there is not a board of governors in place, one which is required by the State College act. So there are no Bursars, or a Human Resource Manager; you do not have a Registrar or a Vice President but instead, one man who is advanced in age, is doing everything here, alone all by himself. This thing has been going on for too long and it needs to stop and to stop right now,” Letang declared.
He said the union wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education in January, 2020, informing her of their nominee to the board as the act provides for the union to have a representative on the board. He said another letter was sent the following year but they have received no acknowledgement.
The DPSU General Secretary further highlighted that the Labour Act of Dominica speaks to the question of employment and probation which also applies to statutory institutions. However, he said that aspect of the law is being ignored.
“The protection of the employment acts stipulate those things but what we have seen happening over the years is that no regard is paid to that act and the President on his own even after people have been working for decades now says he is introducing a 3 to 5 year period before you get permanent employment. That is unheard of.”
Regarding payment to the staff, Letang said the DSC President, Dr Donald Peters, is fully aware that for the financial year 2017/2018 the staff at the DSC should have received their balance of a double bubble and a 3% salary increase.
He said the current president is incapable of carrying out his functions at the institution which was demonstrated at a recent meeting where Dr. Peters informed them that the subsistence revenue from the government has been reduced from $9 million to $4.5 million because of the free tuition which was introduced by the government.
“He said the staff remained silent and they never told government they were opposed to free tuition. Is that a responsibility for staff or a responsibility of the union?” he asked. “If the government has introduced free tuition at the State College, I don’t see any Dominican opposing that including the union. What management had to do was to indicate to the government, now that you have introduced free territory education, our revenue has been reduced, how are you going to make up.”
Letang said the concerns of the staff goe beyond salary negotiation as they have exercised patience and dedication to their work.
“The physical condition of the college is in a deplorable state, the classrooms do not have the furniture that they should have, no electricity in some rooms, no doors and windows, no library, auditorium, computer rooms, technical/vocational workshops and that situation would aggravate anybody,” the union boss lamented. “People have listened to the voices of bus drivers and many other people so the people who educate our children must be listened to as well.”
The General Secretary issued a warning that if any staff is punished as a result of their action, there will be “greater consequences.”
“To tell people their services have been withdrawn, that is ridiculous and the man better come good because we are not going to joke with him. If he wants to threaten anybody here in terms of their job, we are not going to joke about it. You harass one, you touch one, you touch everybody. If the problems cannot be resolved here, we will seek solidarity from the rest of our membership,” Letang stated.
Please correct your date error, it is not may 5th, that was last week.
ADMIN: Thank you, somehow we missed that.
Zor sa toofay ci zo lay.
Skerrit sa met boda zor!
D untouchable!
Who would have thought? But listening to Dr. Peters arrogance and delight in breaking the law and the enlightened contribution of some that we should look at the lights installed as a justification for accepting the conditions at DSC, I wish to inform that I shall leave Dominicans to enjoy their paradise.
No more contributions from me which would make the likes of Lin Clown happy. I refuse to love those who don’t love themselves. Just to say that Dominica is climbing up the down staircase as a people and “we like it so”.
HOTEP!
Everything Thomas BALLS Letang touch is political in support of UWP.Just look at what the guy did to the workers at Public works.He had DALE on q95 everyday calling him BROTHER DALE.Where is brother Dale today?Dale lost his job at Public works and is now in Layou making bakes and acres(ACWA).I agree things are not good at the college but,with BALLS Letang the authorities should CLOSE to do what they have to do.
@Lin clown, in your own words, “I agree that things are not good at the college”. I’ll say no more
Mischievous! See all the pictures that are being portrayed. The old buildings and old chairs. I know the college. What you see there is not the truth.
Ask for pictures of the interior of the buildings the new buildings.
Why do people distort to achieve their personal agenda? The new buildings have proper furnishings etc.
In the spirit of honesty and truth, please go up there and see the classrooms for yourself, all the offices, etc.
Mischief and Mischief. I only can speak for the equipment and furniture.
The other things I cannot comment on. I know the college.
Mischief must stop. Ask for raise an other perks which are rightly due but do not speak untruths with ugly untruth pictures. Show the real college pictures!
ADMIN: All of the pictures in the gallery were taken on Monday of this week.
But…But those are real pictures from the college, I went there probably 10 years ago and I can recognize the college from the pics and videos. How is showing the automobile garage mischievous? explain that to me. I’m sure there are nice classes with AC, but if they want the mechanic class to be fixed shouldn’t they should that? If you cannot recognize that as the state college, I really want to know where you was going when your mother send you school
But that not in Dca man? I just listened to DBS and heard nothing. Allu sure not Antigua all that going on? Those building look like old abandoned warehouses in Antigua.
Anyway if is really Dca I waiting to hear the Dr. Dr. Volaire and the Pampalam Pastor’ wife explain. Hopefully, Letang will bring the full weight of the DPSU to bear while concious people turn back any lecturer or students who refuse to participate in the movement. Ask for the police, if they show up chase them out…enough is enough.
Ugly, ugly pics. Not good at all! Dominica can do better and should.
Not Dominica, the clown that’s in charge of the circus in the financial centre. He is incompetent and corrupt.
The DLP does not want an educated population, it wants an illiterate, unskilled one to match its vision of the future – that of Dominicans being in service to foreign-owned CBI-funded resort hotels. Educated people are too hard to control, and there are no jobs for them.
Why no comments from the Minister of Pampalam and Drone Affairs? You can write a whole speech about drones that noooooo body asked you for. Talking about drone can see a coin on the forest floor. Why you doe take that drone and fly it over the college to see the condition it in.
Great question! She is very conspicuous by her absence. She should use her currency with Skerrit to agitate for the staff and students of the DSC.
The PAMPALAM EXPERT doesn’t have any interest in anything but the shaking of students ‘PAMPALAMS it appears.
Exactly, where is the Dominica Minister of Education in all this?
Making sure that no drones are circulating Skerrits mansion. She is a proper star gazer but useless in the job she is being paid for.
I read this and cry for Dominica. I have dropped students off at this college 18 months ago. It is a fallen apart ghetto. How can a government allow this to happen. Is this an agenda to force motivated young students, the future of Dominica, off island. Why would you send a child to this school.
It is a testament to there dedication to country and the young students, that the teachers at DSC try to conduct thier courses in this mess.
We left Dominica 18 months ago. We have 3 kids in university and college in Canada now There was – is no future for our children in Dominica. There are no jobs, there is a corrupt government leading the country into a totalitarian dictatorship.
Dominica is a failed state, with a people living off government hand outs. The goverment wants to keep you poor, drive your young smart kids off island and continue to steel you blind.
One day Dominicans need to stand up, refuse the token hand outs and take back your country. This is a train wreck in…
Skerrit has to be the personification of the angel who was booted out of heaven. The DSC is a health and physical hazard to students and faculty aloke. Immediate repairs are needed plus the requisite resources.
This ungodly man takes $64 000 each month from the lecturers, the students’ parents and the working poor to support his high maintenance lifestyle while failing to maintain basic standards for the DSC . He gives a foreigner $450 000 for bogus electoral reforms. Yet, this renegade, watch the dilapidated and scandalous state of this most important tertiary learning institution does absolutely nothing about it. This is DEVILRY!
A country is a business. Successful businesses are managed by brilliant, charismatic and forward thinking people. A good business grows and creates opportunities for growth.
Dominica is being run like a mom and pop shop. The owner has no ambitions, no management skills, he inherited the shop by chance. And is draining its purses. Impulse decisions with the support of friends and family…
It’s over for dominica what we are seeing now is the demise of the economy. Then we will find out what’s in the mou.
I agree with your general theme but disagree with the statement that a country is a business.
A business is solely motivated by profit. A government puts mechanisms in place to create opportunities for its people.to empower themselves. No government should engage in profiteering at the expense of its citizens.
Ah! Magwaysah! That is the abysmal condition of our tertiary institution, the Dominica State College? The highest Level of education in Dominica? No,No No… excuses.. Not Hurricane Maria, not Covid-19.. My God! Unbelievable! PM, Technocrats and other officials with Government authority, please do your jobs and just do the right thing and right those wrongs.
We must agree, the staff, faculty and students have been extremely patient. Too patient. While Haitians and Chinese workers are building a Great Wall in Morne Daniel around a farm and a massive private apartment building in Goodwill owned by Chinese nationals, sections of the college lie in rubble, equipment destroyed and abandoned. (No that is not politics) Just facts. Please send these same workers to carry out repairs at the Dominica State College urgently. It was shocking to hear the arrogant DSC President speaking about the issues in a dismissive tone. What message are we sending to our youth? Shameful. Please act now!
The president is best friends with man like Skerrit, Bardouille and all the rest of the boys and girls club sucking vigorously at Dominica’s teat. He is very much involved and to blame for this prolonged problem. He is the President of the college, he must have known for all these years. He definitely has the ear of the PM and could have had these problems fixed. I have no sympathy for him. His resignation should be demanded by staff as the wellbeing of students and staff and faculty have not been his concern. He has not worked in either of their interests.
@If we knew better, the president is more concerned about being “in the loop” of the Skerritt cabal than caring about the education of the young people of Dominica. He has become proud of the fact that he operates in contravention of the laws governing the college and boasts about not having a board, but operating a one man, dictatorial operation. Remember that Skerritt brought him and others on a trip to countries with dictatorial forms of governance. He likes it so.
A screaming example of a National Embarrassment. I fear that this is indeed precursor to what is to come at those Hand out Apartments.
In case any Dominican is wondering, passports can never sell enough to run a Country on freeness and Cool outs!
smh! This is not Politics, this is poor Governance.
What the authorities should do is CLOSE THE COLLEGE FOR A YEAR to straiten out the problems.
What will happen to the students? Put their future on hold? What about the livelihood of all the workers?
This should come at no surprise. The Marigot Hospital, the many health centers, the public library, many of the schools, police stations, etc. are in a sorry state of disrepair. Some are eyesores.
This is the problem. Skerrit and his political strategists know how to win elections by cheating and treating but they don’t have a clue about governance. That’s it.
What you should do is go back to school to get some sort of sense in your head.
I was impressed at the amount money and attended being paid to Dominica’s infrastructure until I saw the deplorable condition of the state college. Road improvements are vital but renovating and maintaining our schools are of equal importance. Just imagine that some of the tutors at the state college have given up lucrative opportunities overseas to stay in Dominica and serve their country. They should be treated better.
Kick these gangster out! Look how they all live at all your expense. All you work hard and live in misee only lies you get…
DNO, I found it strange you could publish such a comment but you could delete …….. from a comment I wrote. That’s the biasness I’m talking about.
ADMIN: We take your point. It has been removed.
Kid on the Block go and cry in a corner nuh. complaining to DNO about comment.
It’s nothing short of miraculous that any thing good can be produced working in such squalor. The staff of the DSC should be considered as miracle workers. How can lecturers get their students to perform creditably under such melancholy conditions. This is ridiculously unacceptable.
I have seen and heard some of these same conditions in the poorest countries around the world but had no clue that it was happening under our noses. But I was naïve because this corrupt regime turns most public institutions and edifices into a landfill.
Every right thinking Dominican should throw their full support behind the staff of the DSC. The future of our nation especially that of our most precious resource (children) is at stake. Not even domesticated animals should be housed in such deplorable conditions. This is a National Shame.
One blames the other but the result remains the same. Skerrit doesn’t want to pay people too much, he wants them to come to him for $500 here and there, an apartment, payment of a hospital bill etc. He needs people to come to him so he can treat them. Of course in exchange for loyalty in particular at the polls and sometimes for a night ‘out’…
“Enough is enough”. The new rallying call for change in Dominica. This administration has had all these years to prove itself competent, and capable, but instead it has cemented itself as the hand-out government bent on making the people dependent on it. People are now afraid to speak because they are afraid to lose the little $300.00, or apt. without ownership that they have gotten, and cannot see the value of change. The value of being employed and being able to provide for themselves. Dominicans are being fooled by the hand-outs. “Enough is enough”, time to demand real change, real growth, and better governance.
I am in full solidarity with the lecturers, its about time people start putting their foot down and saying enough is enough. So its ok for this PM to receive 64 thousand a month to live like a king, meanwhile staff and students at DSC have to work and learn in deplorable conditions?
Long before Maria two students from the State College attended one of my workshops on Creativity in the Workplace. In their opinion all problems at the college stemmed from poor management.
Dr. Donald Peters is the PResident of the college. Closely aligned to the DLP also.
So where is the Minister of PAMPALAM????
Why can’t she shake her PAMPALAM and get to work to alleviate the plight of the teachers and students?
You ALL can come in all shape and form to try to bring down Skerrit and his government but you ALL won’t and can’t prevail!
What about the 250 plus streets lamps from Pond Case to Wesley, the anti- Skerrit haters have destroyed and continue destroying, isn’t that a cause for concern too?
Why choose and pick to make political mileage?
The state college is a cause for concern true but things are done in stages. The government never said it neglected the place. Patience is virtue!
The college looking like a mini labass but hear you. Are they supposed to wait until the college is too hazardous for students and staff to operate in before they start at least one building on campus? I hope if a roof cave in, or a floor sink with one of your relatives you will not want to salay anybody for it
Ebeh that brown envelope you got around November-December 2019 was well hefty papa.
This kind of ignorance is also a part of the problem. We are not talking about some random instituion a “deep-pocketed” foreigner “granted” us with. This is the ‘Dominica State College’, not some cheap Chinese solar lights. Keep the cronies at headquarters and meet with the people.
Pictures speak louder than words Kid. Grow up and take those flaps from your eyes. You think we jealous of a Prime Minister that lets this happen. No Kid, if we have a heart we must feel sorry for him because he can not now escape from that the fortress he living in but worse I feel sorry for our children that he promise to educate. You see what a promise from Skerrit is worth? Nothing, nada my friend, you cannot even eat it if you don’t want to starve.
In fact, Skerrit is doing a might fine job at discrediting himself on a daily basis. It is Dominicans who are scared of change and dont know their right. But any clear thinking person should have known this man wasnt right to be our leader at least 10 years ago.
That is the same street lights that was rusting and rotting in the Canefield playing field for years upon years upon years. FINALLY yes they put up some. what is your point? They provided street lighting? That is not a favor. that is their job, just one miniscule aspect of it. So you want to deflect from the issue of the state college with your rubbish about streetlight. laughable, in true DLP style you try to deflect. Lets stick to the issue. DSC is in a deplorable state and we cannot blame COVID, nor MARIA, nor Erica. We blame SKERRIT!!!!…and Peters
Skerrit couldnt wait to build the wall around his farm before he start the State college or Goodwill school? The wall of China was more important?
This “Kid on the Block” is a real “Childish Baby Kid”. Guess he’s L’abour Party Government still have him “Breast Feeding” and as a result will blindly do and say anything of nonesensical tone to promote and or attempt to elevate Failed Skerrit and his failed Labour Party away from this failed government and it’s people who are in need of Decent leadership, upliftment and recognition of our government, our Dominica, Children, Parents, Families and suffering poverty Villages all over who has abandoned to invest in the development of these poor villages. We all know Skerrit is NOT Developmentally focus, Sufficiently alert & lacks decorum & leadership towards meaningful Social Development of our people & Suffering poor ignored rural villages. Skerrit and his Failed Labour Party Government lacks vision, focus, Socioeconomic development is all about. Skerrit,his Failed incompetent immnature Labour government must get the hell out of our government. We Welcome Hon. Linton & UWP…
So Kid on the Block, what’s the issue of the lights from Pond Casse to Marigot” . Stop being Comical, this is not a game for and of your blind Skerrit. This is Not a gift, nor a pappyshow. Do what, you want to put up a Pappyshow Skerrit dressed👗in Red and show to our people that there is light “Only Now”;. What kind of Pappyshow idiot Idiocy Skerrit talk is that? Can you not see that our villagers and Dominica’ is 50yrs behind? Where the Hell is this clown🤡😍 Labour Party Leaders and leadership of yours. What’s your role In this Clownish 🤡 Ongoing allignedment withing this failed Skerrit LABOUR GOVERNMENT. When are you people going to wake up and smell the coffee 😡?
After 20 long years this failed incompetent Questionable failed Clownish 🤡 Labour government has failed our people and our government. Too much Nonsensical talk and promise from your failed PM Skerrit and his Blind Labour Party and Government.We had enough of Skerrit and desperately need Him & Labour OUT! Need Change.
Kid on the Block you seem to be Blind and ignoramous to the nature of his on-going matter relating to our States College. These dedicated young males and females students has dedicated and prepared themselves to higher education and it appears that the President, Staff and Lectures and higher up, the Ministry of Education appears to be deaf and dumb 🙄 ably supported by this Immature PM Skerrit to quickly and urgently address this on-going disruption of services and resources at our States College and the obvious Education of our dedicated committed College young committed students. These matters should be well monitored and managed through the Minister and Ministry of Education. Keep Skerrit away from the college, he’s a waste of time and not sufficiently mature nor visionary to have this responsible relating to our prestigious State College Professionally able and Commited to our young promising students and the hard working teachers. Their parents need to know ASAP what’s going on.
News flash! The street lamps were vandalized by the same skerrit people. check your nearest police station for the proof.
Of course, greedy they are. For money they do EVERYTHING!
With no other recourse, they gathered on the DSC compound where they intended to stage their action but were escorted out by members of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) and security personnel at the institution.
Read “Animal Farm” people. This is all there.
It is a crying shame to see the condition of Dominicas premiere learning institution. Skerrit and his gang continue to fail the young people… I am hoping that the tutors stand strong and continue their protest action. Its embarrassing for the outside world to see those pictures. OMG!!!
And Skerrit took $64000.00 per month for himself and allegedly $500 000.00 to buy two additional vehicles?
We need Boots on the Ground!!!!
When the Honorable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance decided to make collage free, did he break out the books and crunch the numbers? Cause as far as I know, collage is “private ish” and if you shave off tuition the money have to come from somewhere else. Like someone told me once, nothing is free, you just not the one paying for it. So I was very much surprised the Government put that burden on it’s back already people studying overseas cannot get money. I’m not saying it wasn’t a good idea, but maybe assisting 50% or assisting 80% for people that have it hard. But taking out 100% from everybody? hmmm
They say hindsight is 20/20, but apparently so is my foresight cause I saw that coming.
Minister of Finance eh.. mind you. Goes to show and makes you wonder how other finances are being considered. what projects take priority.
The problem is that Skerrit made himself the Finance Minister even though he has not even a nanosecond of any formal training in this field. What do do expect to happen? You can’t be a plumber and expect to do neurosurgery. The outcome is going to be disastrous.
“State of the art”, as they love to call it. “State of our art” is more like it. Next lets go to Goodwill Secondary School (GSS). Since 2017 their students have been sharing the Dominica Grammar School (DGS) compound with the DGS students. Last we heard the government had already gave the design contract to revenovate the GSS to a firm based in China. In fact it will be one of 6 schools in Dominica that will be constructed by Chinese design and contracting firms.
See the article below posted by DNO for more information –
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/goodwill-secondary-among-14-schools-to-be-reconstructed-in-dominica/
So, guess which educational institution will make it 7? you guessed it ladies and gentlemen, the State College. Meanwhile professional local contractors are not able to be part of any significant national projects, unless maybe subcontracted to do the work, or part of it. Waiting for Dominica’s own little volcano to erupt. Bubbling still.
Smart and educated Dominicans know better than that!
And the majority are with the government. Thy can analyze and parse every situation. They are not fools, ignorant and arrogant like the rest. Don’t full yourself you in the minority plans and intentions shall not bear fruits! Keep bubbling!
Another detractor from the real issues. I know sometimes i make typos when i write quickly but Kid on the Block, the word is “fool” not “full”. Both have different meanings. for example, it seems you are a “fool” and that our national coffers will never be “full” with the government that we now have. But i do agree with you though, my intentions for a vibrant, prospering, self sufficient Dominica wil not bear fruit. Not under our current administration. Speak from facts with reason and evidence instead of speaking from emotion next time. It will give you more credibility.
Thanks for the correction… but Satan cannot correct sin… the word is (will and not wil )
When referring to yourself ( the letter “I” is always capitalized) Read over your comment please!
Smart…YOU are not
Educated… you can’t be
Ignorant…YOU definitely are
YOU are a looser with a dark brown nose!!!
right now all his lips brown too. he so far up in there.
I humbly and decently condone these brutal Chinese Government and its Chinese people in Dominica The Hell OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT and our STATE COLLEGE ASAP. We just don’t trust this Brutal Inhuman Chinese deplorable Government, Disgusting Brutalized disrespectful CHINESE GOVERNMENT. The people are under bondage, are not allowed to practice their Religious Faith and Honour to Our, and their God. Thank God for our Government’s who respected our Rights, practiced our religion and other Godly practices. Amen 🙏🏽. Before it gets worse we need the Chinese to respect our People, Religion and our Democratic Rights to express ourselves and not be locked 🔐 up in our own thoughts. Dominica is ours and if this brutal Chinese leadership and Brutal Government unable to respect their own People we don’t want to see and have this inhuman democratic Rights we have EARNED.
We welcome assistance for Dominica but must be credible, Honourable in their thoughts. No discrimination of our people & others.
A damn SHAME is all!