Member of Parliament for Roseau Central Norris Prevost and Education Minister Petter Saint Jean clashed in parliament on Wednesday morning over the state of the grounds of the Dominica Grammar School (DGS).
On one hand, Prevost said the grounds of the school are in a deplorable state but Saint Jean countered saying the grounds are maintained on a regular basis.
Prevost argued that the grounds of the school are not properly maintained and questioned whether Saint Jean was aware of it. “Is the Minister of Education aware that the grounds of the Grammar School continues to be riddled with huge piles of big stones and rubbish and an old shipping container and the grounds have been badly overgrown from the opening of the school term up to yesterday…up to this day,” he said.
He asked Saint Jean to inform the house when the grounds will be properly maintained “so that the students can play there safely.”
But according to the education minister, the school grounds are maintained and are kept clean. “Madam speaker I wish to inform this honorable house that the Dominica Grammar school grounds were leveled in summer 2010. At the beginning of the school year the grounds were cleaned and continued to be maintained on a regular basis,” he said. “I wish to inform this honorable house that there is no rubbish on the grounds and the container on the site belongs to the contractor and all efforts are being made to have it removed as a matter of urgency…..There is no debris, no garbage or bush at the front of the Dominica Grammar School grounds.”
However, Saint Jean’s reponse did not satisfy Prevost who suggested that the minister was probably not wearing the correct glasses the last time he passed by the Grammar School. “Madam Speaker, the minister says that the grounds of the Grammar School have been graded and there is no rubbish or debris in the school yard. Can the minister inform this honorable house whether he had on his correct glasses the last time he passed by the Grammar School yard?” he asked.
At that point Speaker of the House Alix Boyd-Knights interjected and deemed Prevost question to be “Absolutely out of order.If you cannot rephrase I am going to ask the minister not to respond,” she pointed out.
Prevost finally backed down and withdrew the question.
Mr.Prevost is the patron of the Roseau Improvement Committee,he could have asked the principal to ask some teachers and students of the higher forms and together with the RIC they could have cleaned the school surroundings on community day of service. This would have shown real statesmanship.
The Primary school at Laplaine have Plenty Rats, I hear, Mr Minister make sure you checking that out, we don’t want to hear children dying of the DISEASE>>>>>>
Mr.Telemacque,I was rather taken back by your comments.I’m not sure if I met your before, but I respect you for all the positive comments you’ve comtributed; so I expected you to see where I’m coming from. Hon. Prevost pointed to what he sees as a problem; and that’s fine with me. But what I said is this: Why is every one waiting on govt. to fix every little thing? Let’s learn to help ourselves.___ That’s what made America great.
If this is the state on a ground that is maintained then i do not want to see one that is not maintained eh. The education of the future leaders are not being taken serious in Dominica. It is a real problem right now. Politicians are doing just what they need to do in order to get political leverage on their opponent. We need people that will do what is right and best for the future generations as well.
Well if this ground is maintained on a regular basis i dont want to see a ground that is not m
Of course mr. Prevost played to the gallery and I found it rather amusing. To be sure, there are more important issues at stake but why not have some banter in the chamber and rib our opponents if only to break the tension of what otherwise resembles a highly-charged cockpit.
It is not that the Hon. Minister was not wearing the correct glasses he was wearing “ROSE TINTED” glasses!
Hon. Norris Prevost my question to you is this: are you desperately trying to claim credit for the present grading of the grounds of the new wing of the Dominica Grammar School?
Everybody driving to drop off their kids using the stadium bridge or Reginald Austrie Bridge has been seeing the work going on. Pass this week and you will see for yourself.
What’s all the praise for Prevost! The man simply identified a problem, besides talk, what has he done to alleviate the plight of the children? Did he show love for country over party? Unfortunately, he did not. No iniatiation! Dominicans stop being so gullible. Mr. Prevost had the opportunity to show that he genuinely cares, however, he has failed. Talk, talk…
Well Labour also had the opportunity to show they care and they have failed too! They are not even talking! In fact the minister is saying everything is fine! So both sides fail then I will take the side that is at least seeing and talking!
My fellow Dominicans,let’s stop playing politics. Mr.Prevost might be telling the truth; but, all he’s trying to do is gain some ‘political milage’. If he ‘s really troubled by the condition of the grounds, he should get others with him to clean up the area.__(BE PART OF THE SOLUTION>__ Even here in Boston, many teachers, some from Dominica, have to spend their own money
to buy chalk to do their job.
What are the duties of parliamentary representatives wether in opposition or holding a governmental position in the ruling government?
Norris Prevost is doing exactly what he was elected to do and that is to look after the people who elected him welfare, and he is not limited to the people who elected him only. It is his responsibility to speak out against anything which he believes is not right in the country in general!
To Dominica seem to be his major concern: if in your opinion he is trying to gain political mileage through his endeavors right now, it is the best way to gain such political mileage; at least we know he is working for the few dollars he collects as an opposition member of the House.
Would prefer he simply collect from the tax payers and do nothing for his keep?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Good point…too many times some of us are blinded by party colours and fail to recognize the real issue.
This is really pathetic, Members of Paliament bickering on the maintenance of a school playing field. One dimensional and petty!. Instead of debating on more serious issues like the country’s economy and laws, they are arguing on whether a school playing field is level and if there is debris. Dominica is going in the wrong direction.
On another note, what happened to the school’s PTA?. Can’t they see that the school grounds need to be maintained?. How about fund raising and voluntary service?. Gorsh!, is it so difficult to hire someone to do the land scaping?.
This issue is really not worth debating in Parliament!
Honourable Minister, all due respect to you, but for once Mr. Prevost is correct in his accusation against you and your Ministry. Mr. Prevost knew he was going to lash you on that so he went over and studied the place, he did not just say it. I too pass along that road daily. I am a former DGS girl and my heart bleeds at the way in which the old true DGS building is being kept, the court yard where the assembly is being kept needs to be done over. THe building is ugly and needs a face lift. In our time in the 80’s where Ossie Savarin was king of sports in Dominica he would never allow his student to play on such a court. Really shame on you and the Ministry.
You have to realize that in the new building area no allowance was made for recreating so the kids have to move to the old building, Why in God’s name can’t you guys take your students learning environment seroiusly? kids spend long hours in a deplorable environment. So Sad Honourable Minister, I do hope you start working on that.
KEEP IT BURNING HONOURABLE PREVOST…Bring up the Playing Field issue for us please!
Well show a pic of the grounds and let we the people decide
There are two things I look forward to on DBS radio: Monday night calypso with Mr. Blackmore and House of Assembly. Both are equally entertaining.
GOOD JOB HONOURABLE PREVOST.
So everythin Government has to do, where is thePTAof the school I saw on TV where the Dod Dan Principal rally her troup together and painted the School.,,Sham on parents, teachers and prinicpal who think Government must do everything, I know a school where the father maintain the yard.
Thank you Dominican 2
The government has crippled the country, i cannot agree with the Honourable Prevost more than that. Only thing is this darn government is so incompetent,wicked and lazy wonder if they know where the DGS IS… YOU MUST GO HELP THEM…
HOnourable ask questions about the DGS grounds for us please. We need places where the youths can recreate.
yah! what our tax moneydr for, to put in dr pocket, people like u that think about allu pocket alone, so much young man in Roseau smokin and stealin, give dem a job to clean d school yard every 3 weeks…
I am rather shock at your comment. PTA can do and is doing a lot but the prime responsibility for maintenance of schools rest with the Government. No need to pass the buck. Government must do their work
How can this man Petter St Jean hold a bible in his hand every Sunday and go to church > Thats why people have no regard for people who preach the word. !!!!!!!
what a deathment in the country
DNO please go to DGS and take some pics. i go pass the school everyday and i lament on the condition of the yard, u wud say is paro that living dere.
shame shame shame
and imagine the minister saying that the grounds are well kept.
so u know, he has no idea wat his really going on.
the next level ppl.
DNO, you really need to step up. This he said, she said is not enough to inform your readers.
In the past when people ask that you post photos of persons on who, you report, you rightly claim you are not in possession of the person’s photo. We don’t have a problem with that. In this case, all you need to do to drive by the DGS compound and verify the facts (with photos to support). That should not take too long. You need to be more thorough in your reporting.
I agree 100% neighbour
Those grounds are maintained? Well thats “niggeritis” for you.
Has he ever travelled? Maybe thats the problem he has never left Dominica so he has nothing to compare it to. Poor thing. Skerrit should let him travel. Doesnt have to be far. Just there in Barbados he will be able to see what well maintained grounds look like.
I support Prevost 100% but then you see Mr. Prevost has travelled extensivley so he knows better.
They should have the students be in charge of keeping the grounds maintained under the supervision of forestry. It will build character and work ethic which are two traits sorely lacking in this generation thanks to their crappy parents. So its up to the state to take part of the responsibility in order to minimize future criminals.
For once I agree with the UWP! I’m disgusted every time i pass by the school via the new back road. The Argicultural Division is right next door…how about some landscaping???
Petter, something is wrong with one of you parliamentarians; one out of the two of you cannot see, and the one who cannot see well has lied in the peoples parliament.
That parliamentarian is not Norris Prevost.
The grounds of the DGS is indeed in a deplorable state, and Norris has been debating that for months now right here on DNO!
You are defending against the truth; that is too much of an simple issue: all you had to say is that you are not aware of the dreadful and dire situation existing; and you will look into it and find out why maintenance of the ground is not maintained as schedule.
We would perhaps accept that rather than you trying to distort the truth!
I mean Dominica is a dawn small place you can get out of your office at any time of day and take a walk up to the school and use your eyes and see the condition of the grounds for yourself, nobody should have to beat that into your head, be a man and accept it as it is; you have no defense in this matter.
Trying to impress people that the ground is maintained on schedule, is creating another problem for you, and that is damaging your credibility.
If you say the ground was leveled recently why couldn’t you anticipate some debris could be left behind?
The shed which Norris spoke about, I have a picture here of it, if I could I would have posted it along with my comments to prove that your opponent is correct and you are wrong.
You need to conduct yourself accordingly man; accept the truth when it is the truth, people who defends against the truth with a lie are known as liars; I am sure you do not wish to be viewed as a liar: do you?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
St Jean and the entire cabal,has already crippled virtually all THE PRODUCTIVE sectors on island. They have killed all institutions. It does not surprise me that our schools are next… That’s right Prevost.
GOOD REPRESENTATION MR PREVOST.!
I just LOVE THIS MAN called Norris Prevost…I always said if only i was living in town my VOTE WOULD BE YOURS…But this is what NEXT LEVEL means Honourable Prevost.
Wonder how long St Jean visited the DGS or any school on island? No playing field for DGS, AND DEBRIS ON THE GROUND…Shame on those people or imposters posing as leaders of government…
WELL DONE HON PREVOST… LOVE YOU!
DNO, so now you have some investigative reporting to work on…show mr. minister, how powerful you’re! I visited Dominica recently and was wandering, how in gods’ name can kids hang out in such mess. We can do better than this…!
One thing i never understood a s a child: People going up against each other at election time, both sides have great ideas but one ultimately wins. Why is it that some of these ideas cannot be considered and worked upon. why is there sooooo much division in politics, in Dominica politics especially. Another thing i do not understand is why the same people who want to help their constituency back down when the other party wins. Another thing: Why do we jump up and shout hooray for the basic things that government gives (things they SHOULD give anyways); schools, roads ect. Where is the innovation? Where is the focus on youth? the same youth that have to build tomorrow! It is not just about the grounds they go to school in, it is their mentorship as well. It is about the food their eat and many many more. We rather import stuff, get sick, pay doctor. Instead of cultivate the land, grow produce, cook cultural, eat, live healthy. WOW! Someone please, answer! Skerrit cannot do all, Labour cannot do all, Workers cannot do all… we rather fight, day and night… is that right? hmmm, it sure looks so!!! (Shame)
Not in Domi.ica my friend. People vote for a shoot of rum, a sheet of galvanized roofing, because their grand father was labor, for a plane ticket, a fifty dollar bill. It is sad
What are our priorities in this place?
Every student deserves a proper school environment if that person is expected to excel. I remember the days when SMA and DGS used to compete in basketball and football. That used to be like a regular premier league competition. I remember inter-school and athletics meet on the DGS grounds.
Look at where we are today
Yes I
Mr. St. Jean is trying very hard to be very dishonest with a public who more than likely see the school more often than he does. We de public can even tell u what color shirt de groundsman wearing while he cleaning de yard. That container been there for so long since project completion I suspect de phones no longer work.
Mr. St Jean u are so pathetic.
I will never send my children to DGS if this situation doesn’t change. Compare that to Goodwill Secondary, SMA, Community High School.
Grammar School yard needs to be cleaned. Level the earth. Rust marks on de paint similar to de $30 million Stadium net door.
Clean minds clean surroundings will create positive powerful leaders for de future of our country
What DNO should do is before posting this Item, they should go to the DGS play grounds and take a picture of it today and post the picture so all could see what this edition is all about.
But i guess again,Believability is what this is all about.
wow one thing Dominica is a really interesting place wow..the more you live the more you see things unfolding in your eyes..
the sad thing with dominicans they accept lies and misleading information from their ruling regime.
that’s why the will continue to be the Poorest and Dullest in the Eastern Caribbean..
dominicans lack class in all aspects, they don’t think outside of the box, extremely petty at all levels in the society..
But the writing is already on the wall the economy is dead and wont be revived , unless a change of regime, labour has made the country poor due to lack of thinking BIG..
As a past DGS student I get upset everytime I pass outside of the Grammar School. Mr. prevost has a point. Take the politics away.. the school yard needs to be landscaped and maintained.
Mr Prevost please understand we are dealing with the multiple phases of next level. As we all know everything is upside down so when Petta says that the Grammar School ground is good to go we know what that really means.
Wasn’t the Chinese suppose to restore the ground to original condition or better. If what we are looking at is acceptable to the ministry of a education then what else can we say but next level. Definitely not the next level up.
I agree with the speaker for once. Mr Prevost’s phrasing was out of line.
I find you very rude and out of place for you to be talking about “what inside his house looks like” one thing i know for sure your eyes will never see inside it. I guarantee you inside his house is cleaner than the words that spue out of your mouth.
That’s “spew”
Mr. St. Jean,
the yard of that particular school is NOT being mentained.
I leave out of Roseau and i pass in that area just to see what the whole talk about school yard mentainance is about. I cannot believe the condition of the school grounds.
Mr. St. Jean, when last did you pass by this school? Because you DO NOT KNOW whatyou are talking about.
It is ashame in middle of Roseau, capital of the Commonwealth of Dominica, that one of famous high schools ob the island, the ground is in that state.
What do you all really do to see things get done.
Hope your conscience will make you do the right thing.
God Bless Dominica
But DOMINICA Boss, this definitely cannot be the role and duty of the Minister of Education can it?
I mean come on you must know that the Ministry of Education is manned by many officials including a Permanent Secretary, a Chief Education Officer and a few Education Officers all over the island so as the Parl Rep all Prevost had to do is go to one of them and ask the question thats all…. I bet they would explain to him.
Parliament is about Policy and Legislations not operational issues such as cleaning a school yard.
So why can’t DNO just visit the said grounds, take some pics, interview the students, teacher and contractor and let us know the facts from fiction?
Please DNO, investigate and inform us. Thanks.
I agree with you on that. I love DNO much more so than any other but i am to often disappointed in the reporting. I often ask why is DNO so fearful. What else canbesaid abou DNO as the site have been labeled pro opposition and pro government . A couple of photos would allow the readers to see who is speaking la vawitais even if meant a few hours of delayed posting.
I see nothing wrong with the report….it’s a parliamentary report on parliamentary proceedings. At this point the emphasis is not on who is telling the truth but the actual debate itself.
At this point a photo of the grounds will give some the impression that DNO is taking sides in the matter by using it to discredit one one side of the argument.
Great editorial decision.
Mamizoo, «a couple of photos» now would not help because DNO would have had to also show «a couple of photos» of the state of the grounds from September. I assure u, the grounds were not in a terrible state from September.
Dorival John did you really want to post this crap. A photo would indicate that DNO is taking sides??? A photo would show that DNO has gone in search of the truth. The truth has no sides
i saw minister st. jean this morning and i asked my friend… is his glasses upside down????
i think i was right…
Pure Animal farm – one day we will have an opposition grouping serious enough to debate issues. smh
I guess Mr Prevost has no right to talk About the school in his constituency. Besides the Grammer School ground is the only play ground in the center of Roseau and advocating for the youth and sporting facilities is not a real issue then Observer must step up and tell s what are the sues that the opposition must talk about. Observer itell us what issues yo would like te opposition to discuss. Is it corruption, Agriculture, Toursm, the economy, cost of living, legislations against money laundering , or legal professions act what about unemployment.
You see when there is a call for dialogue and debate Observer , Bonnie and Clyde, Gary ,Peeping Tom all believe that Dominicansare way to primitive for debate and discussion.
@ Dominican for Sure Go to Dr Benjamin for your sick and dusty brain. What else can be a more potent issue than what the Honourable gentlemann has raised. It pertains to our youths, and their future, their safety and their security. I am Proud of You Honourable Prevost.
debate issues? not by bonnie and clyde family na.. awa. nobody do coming and wash their foot and come .. en en
Madam Speaker, can’t you see the real objective for all this drama by the Opposition, Mr. Prevost and Eddo in particular. Both of them are from Marigot? Their real objective is to create a stir and thus cause you or the PM to over react or rule/behave in in a manner that can be deemed to be bias to the opposition and so they will get another matter to chew on with the aim of bringing boots on the pavement. Just relax and let them fry in their own oil. Mr. Prevost returned to parliament at the last moment to avoid a bye-election in Roseau. Mr. James has just announced that his party is backing back on their demands for ID cards just to vote every five years. they are now accepting the government’s recommendation of a national ID card that could be used for many other purposes including travelling. Of course they say they have certain conditions. Leave them alone they will eventually come home, heads bowed and dragging their tail behind them. Don’t allow youselve to be used by them.
it is time you open your eye a new day has began you are as blind as the minister of education please check doctor Rickets
Thumps down to your comment
What does your incoherent rantings have to do with them being from Marigot? Are people of Marigot not Dominicans too? Pierro knew exactly whom he spoke of in that famous phrase!
@ Observer Your bloggs are tantamount to Latrine Garbage! Filth! Koshonyee! Go dump it (them) at La Bass.
great observer of nonsense not fit enough to dump in the garbage..yok
are you being paid to post comments.
to my understanding everybody in dominica even dogs and cats have a a phone or how dominicans like to say BB.andlike me,i have a phone myself and thy do make them nowadays with camera.
my point is that mr.prevost should have taken a pic of the ground to show his proof to the house and maybe i would know who telling the truth for someone like me who don`tlive dominica.
You Dude you are a poisson to our country. People like you should be isolated from civilization. Go to the archives and you will see that mr Prevost has been asking about this DGS fiasco for years. He has spomen about this on the radio, at public meetings and he also took the matter to the miñistry.
We wonder why we are where we are. It is not necessarily piticians but primarily the Joes, Observers, peeping toms and the Tony Astaphans who fan the flame of corrupt politiciansred, blue or green
All Mr Prevost had to do to prove his point was to present the house with picture evidence from yesterday/this morning showing the conditions of which he spoke.
I just dont get this guys coming to the house without evidence and wasting everyone’s time. How long did that “clash” take??? I bet something of greater importance could have been addressed as nothing resulted from the “clash”
Again, this is where DNO, a media organisation, can educate the public. Most persons who pass by the school would know what the facts are because they would probably have seen what the school yard looks like since the beginning of the new school year. However, in the interest of truly educating the wider public (as opposed to merely informing), especially the readership that has not been able to see the school yard, DNO, the reporting organisation should inform the public of the unadulterated facts.
Besides Mr. Prevost………………….has repeatedly said to us that the government’s text book scheme was stopped? To date, no media organisation has actually told us if this is indeed true and if so, what are the facts on this issue.
Again, a media organisation satisfies itself with merely «reporting» and the public remains ignorant of the facts. I have more to come on this.
This s not the first time that prevost Has spoken on ths issue. N fact it as been a numer of yers since Prevost has been complaining. According to peeping Tom since the beginning of the school year the condition at the school ground ad changed . Note though the same Peeping Tom criticized Prevost in the past when he ade the same statements about the same school ground
Those were the days when DGS was DGS. When Wilson was the best they had. Now DGS is a HOT MESS
You stated that incorrectly.
It should have said when Wilson was a student DGS was DGS that was in the 70’s and before him.
Ask Savarin charlo and those in their late 60’s plus.
On a different note: when will the comedy in parliment end? Both the opposition with all it comedians a group of former DFP discontents and the DFP led infiltrate DLP Gov’t reach the true next level of pride, commonsense, honesty-(a lonely word)education, with spectacles fitting up right etc.
Now the biggest insult to the situation is madam speaker’s contribution. lord have mercy, what a clown in this political circus.
With such an opposition, Gov’t, public no wonder DA has sank to where it is now.
Mediocre people everywhere.
Certainly you are in ur 30’s lol just come johnnycomelately tickle me.
Still in political diaper and drinking political borbor lol! Read go to the library ask ur Grand parents questions about the pass when DA was a real county, when it was at the previous real next level. As this one is really on a different level lol Heaven, Lord/ Marx /Lenin help them, for they no not what mess this little speck has become with opportunism with human faces.
I am aware creole fest just ended but carnival is 3 months away and the mask faces are on already or are they permanent? lol
Are these people serious? If the grounds are not clean simply say that the situation will be addressed, and if they are clean say that they are! But why is that even an issue raised in the House? Seriously?
These people need to take an outsider’s look at themselves; hopefully they might see how truely pathetic they sound bickering over the grounds of a High School. This shouldn’t even be an issue. The school grounds should ALWAYS be kept clean, and safe for students to be able utilize.
If there is someone responsible to ensure the proper maintenance of the grounds, then that person should be held accountable.
If you don’t dersandth sue which you obviously dont then take the Tim t understand the isse efre you comment
YOU did not not understand neither the issue nor what the person said. And you probably need glasses too. Just look at the rubbish you wrote
Prevost….what happen to the a/c unit in ur cinemall??? thats the bigger question…DGS grounds are ok…no life threatening issues over there
What does the cinemall have to do with that? Our tax money does not maintain the cinemall. So get real!!!!
his cinemal is not a government entitiy, sot
that is if u yourself hav a fan at your house maybe well a paper you using to fan what does the Ac unit at the prevost cinemall have to do with the dirty grammar school grounds
Anonymous, sorry but this time your diversion tactics not working.
hahaha if he wore his correct glasses lol