Minister for Education, Petter Saint Jean, has recognized Cuba as a partner in Dominica’s development over the years.
He made the remarks at a ceremony held at the State House on Wednesday evening, in observance of 20 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
He highlighted the educational opportunities afforded to Dominicans in Cuba, particularly in the training of medical practitioners.
“Over the years, hundreds of young Dominicans have been educated in the Republic of Cuba. We speak here, of course, of medical practitioners who have been trained in Cuba,” he said. “Indeed, Cuba has been one of the true partners in development with us here, in Dominica.”
The Cuban government has provided a number of programs, including the Miracle Eye Care program—that touched the lives of the average and poor Dominican— transformed the lives of many, he pointed oujt.
Saint Jean spoke highly of a program, introduced in April 2015, whereby 13 Dominican students will be awarded Cuban scholarships on an annual basis, from 2015 to 2018.
“Last year, we saw, through the Cuba-CARICOM program, that the scholarship program, which every year we benefit from, a tremendous increase in the number of individuals who are now able to access education in the Republic of Cuba,” the Minister commented.
In July 2015, 13 young persons were chosen to pursue degrees in Cuba, in the fields of Medicine, Engineering, and Architecture.
Saint Jean mentioned that the Cuban Embassy and the Ministry of Education are in the process of recruiting no less than 13 young Dominicans, who will, within the upcoming months, travel to Cuba for a period ranging between five and seven years for studies.
The Cuban scholarship program was initiated in 1979, as part of the Cuban Government’s assistance to Dominica in the aftermath of the destruction of the island by Hurricane David.
November 30, 2014 marked the 35th anniversary of the Cuban scholarship program in Dominica.
Hundreds of Dominican students— including Dominica’s Minister of Health, Dr. Kenneth Darroux—have benefitted from the initiative.
Petter my son.Go and try to get even if it is an associate degree. Stop using words in the wrong context
Dominica is like a friend who use you because you win some money, then when your money gone they move on to the next friend.
I listened to Petter St. Jean giving untruths or in other words, telling blatant lies about the Cuban experience in the presence of those who know better and were part of the process. It is a shame that leaders of a country can without shame twist history. I listened to Severin McKenzie and the Cuban Ambassador giving an accurate representation of the Cuba -Dominica relations. Now St. Jean comes and twists the story as an achievement of the Labour Party.
What St. Jean did not say is that since Skerrit betrayed the Polisario Front of Western Sahara he, Skerrit, stays away from all Cuban activities thus the reason for his absence, because he was on island.
Well observed Anna. He is a coward and lets his minions take the flak.
Yes, one has to admit that Cuba has helped develop Dominica’s human capital, and for that we are eternally grateful. Notwithstanding though, Cuba is NOT a democratic state. It is incumbent on us to ALWAYS urge, nudge the island leaders towards this noble goal. Just as we have benefited from Cuba so too can Cuba learn about democracy from us. Don’t you think?
HOTEP!
This sound really nice, impressive, great, this is the second best thing that has happen to dominica. The first best thing has to be “DR Supremo”
That Cuba country seem to be a paradise 
Just wondering why all the DLP, kings and queens, never return to reside,shop,vacation, retired, or have their children in cuba. Hey next year get all the alumni, with the DLP royalty, and have the cocktail party in havana, and a toast, with the castro brothers. Don’t forget to walk with your “American dollars”, they love it in cuba, “Viva”
So because Venezuela wreck is Cuba now? These people make me sick
Wow, how politics change things. This was the same person who did not want his children to go to Cuba, because it was too low class according to them.
I see Cuba coming like codfish. Poor man food , soon to be rich man food.
Late observation, bro. Trying to fool de US? America has you all #
Yes, Cuba has been a bongo, tango buddy with Dominica trying to influence communism in the country!
They gave free scholarship to as many Dominicans to study medicine in Cuba, how many of them return that you can say are very successful in their medical practice in private, and in the main hospital in Roseau?
Petter, more people died in Dominica all due to malpractice by Cuban trained so called doctors over the years. I have a niece who died last year because of malpractice. Vava was beaten almost to death, she sustained blunt force trauma to her head, more than four times she went to Princes Margaret Hospital complaining of excruciating headaches; each time the quacks at the hospital sent her home without any treatment.
I as a simple Health Science Major, first year medical school student dropout: if someone came to me in her condition, my first order in a sequence of examination after taking her vitals would be to check and see if she was bleeding internally!
I would…
Continuing:
I would admit her in the hospital for a forty-eight hours observation.
Eventually the girl went home for the last time, and succumb to the head injuries, which cause her to bleed international, and died! So, you and puppets like Francine, and all your puppet associate in Government need to quit!
I am not finished yet: Another relative of mine had kidney failure, one of her kidney’s failed, rather than removing the defected fail kidney, the clowns at the hospital left the none-functional kidney in her allowing it to damage the kidney that was still functioning, she died, from Cuban doctors malpractice. Here is another case, my cousin mother went into your hospital she needed a blood transfusion, rather than giving the lady a blood transfusion, the Cuban trained doctor sent the lady home.
Her reasoning was that there was nobody with her blood group to donate. Meanwhile the lady had two nephews no the list with her identical blood group, she went home and die!…
Continue On:
About a month or so later that same Cuban trained doctor who sent the lady home without a blood transfusion died! She could not save herself.
I am still coming at you: Former Prime Minister the late Rosie Douglas died from a common treatable disease hypertension; hours after he was visited by a so called Cuban trained doctor. If that quack did not have a stereoscope with accessories to check his blood pressure, a properly trained doctor would simply check Rosie pulse, and if he discovered the heart rate was over 72 beats per minute for a man at Rosie’s age, he would have taken the man to hospital, his incompetence cost Rosie Douglas his life. ultimately the pressure ruptured Rosie’s Esophagus, and other internal organs killing him.
Finally, not too long ago a former Labor Party associate at a very high level was told by two Cuban born trained doctors, that the Dominica former Labor Man had cancer, the Cuban duo was getting ready to cut the man open to…
Conclusion:
The Cuban duo was getting ready to cut the man open to remove what they say was cancer. Its a good thing the man knows a real Dominica doctor living here in the United States, who advised him to come to America to get a second opinion, he came.
After testing, and examinations, it turned out the man does not have cancer, and never had, what the Cuban quacks saw were makers caused by un-treated diabetes, the man was treated, if that Dominica doctor did not suggest he come here he would be another victim of your Cuban doctors, that’s the sort of crap people like you Petter give to Dominica; nevertheless, as soon as you people who live off the blood of the poor feels nervous, you flee Dominica to get medical treatment out of the country.
I can brief you on a host of other malpractice, and other shady occurrences under people like you and boy that could turn you crazy!
LOL skerite forget bout venezuela now??
What is the purpose of comments if not to make sensible ones that others could learn something from?
Some of you make such ignorant comments which serve no useful purpose. I suppose you have nothing better to state.
You do not know how to appreciate the good others have done and how to say thank you. You have much to learn.
Welcome to the ignorant club Facts. If I’m correct you are one of the most prolific contributors to this site. Not so?
“because all devils to is kill and destroy everything, and everybody god!”
That should read ‘because all devils do is kill, and destroy everything and everybody good!
Facts, I hate to do it but I must call you an idiot again; say thanks to who Skerrit?
Are you implying that Skerrit should get thanks for destroying the country leaving more than 90% of the aftermath in hunger and pain?
Thanking him for enriching himself, while the more than 90% of the people in the country woke this morning with perhaps nothing to eat?
Facts, you are an evil witch! You are a devil!
And mind you I thought that Satan was the only devil, but while studying in the Book of Matthew last night I found where Jesus Christ spoke of devils, that why I come to realize that there are many devils like you out there!
You are a devil, as Skerrit is a devil also, and nobody should thank a devil, because all devils to is kill and destroy everything, and everybody god!
“because all devils to is kill and destroy everything, and everybody god!”
That should read ‘because all devils do is kill, and destroy everything and everybody good!
Dear Peter,
Oh how I hate to write but I must let you know that my love for you have died because I am now married to Uncle Sam and it is not appropriate to continue this relationship because as you may know and if you don’t know, you need to know that, if you are not with us, you are therefore against us. Sorryyyyyy!
Petter , you are even more cringe worthy than Francine Baron. What are you after this time?
Petter Saint Jean, I agree with you that Cuba has been a partner in Dominica’s development over the years. However, the current has changed as Cuba is now a friend of the USA, while you, Skerrit, and the DLP are lost in the ocean of nowhere. The US cannot trust Skerrit and the DLP and as a result, in order for Dominica to benefit from Cuba in a meaningful way, Skerrit and his DLP playboys MUST vacate the parliament or get kicked out. Go help Venezuela is my advise to you. Send them those police officers that were at war against Salsbury people and I suggest Pelham be the leader
Throwing words as usual which is all you are capable of. What a shame!
Your comments and insinuations make no sense whatsoever. They are blatantly unfounded and untrue; far from the truth.. When will you learn to communicate sensibly and amicably?
Skerrit used to say more than that about Venezuela,but it had to take Honourable linton to tell this PM that now that Venezuela is in crisis,why bas he abandoned them.THIS IS UNGRATEFUL INDEED!!!
What happened to Venezuela?
Venezuela under pressure and well brokes so u will come and say that…so if cuba is then what is china???
hush your mouth there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if cuba wasnt good for their self all you destroy them just how all you destroy venezuela
On point they are bankrupt of ideas; they are always looking to other countries so they can beg, how pitiful; a bunch of beggars in Suits. Dominica deserves better governance.
What does St. Jean know about Cuba……?