Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Chandler Hyacinth, has explained that the decision to not allow students to march was mainly taken because of the weather conditions, the sogginess of the ground and the interest of students’ safety.
Dominica News Online (DNO) contacted Hyacinth for comment on a decision by some of the students to do a march past despite the cancellation, by the organizers of that aspect of the national youth rally.
“We were concerned that if during the march past students get wet some of them have to travel far and we were concerned for [their] safety because some areas were waterlogged. If a child got injured, there are still some implications for the Ministry of Education,” the Education Official told our newsroom.
Hyacinth said that she was very much aware of the kind of preparation that was done and knows that students are excited about the national youth parade from the practices and viewing of the performances.
When asked if the Ministry of Education would allow students to march later on during this independence season, she said decisions will be made based on the conditions at the time and she cannot predict what will be done in the future.
Hyacinth said that for next year’s youth rally, plans will be put in place for the possibility of bad weather during that time.
Why didn’t the government cancel all events that day if there was inclement weather… After they got the spotlight, they called off the rally because they wanted the prepare the venue for the OECS Pageant. Simple as that.
I do reach DSC and not understand that… i have commonsense.
The person who announced it is to blame..she insisted the March is cancelled
the million dollar question is did the DSC or The PC AS match in water or soiled their uniforms.
Weren’t there people making speeches and the kids had to stand there and listen? When the time came to display their talents after much practice you are concerned about their safety. Shame on all those who disappointed the kids then you all will turn around and say they cannot be relied on. Congratulations kids.
Dear Ministry of Education,
These “internet teens” are not like we used to be. You can’t just cancel stuff on them just like that after they have practiced. That approach only makes them defiant. You have to explain to them in advance, why you are cancelling and give them an alternative. A new marching day perhaps? As a parent having to deal with these situations all the time I am telling you, you did it wrong.
Why are Dominica’s so malicious
Let’s see it that way
If they had a march pass and salute
One of the children slip and broke their leg
It would have been another story
Maybe it would be The prime minister wants salute at any cost
Well I wonder who can please Any Dominica’s
Most difficult people in the world to please
IIf God would come down they would criticise him
Wake up Dominica’s
Give jack his jacket when he deserve it
Real frivolous excuses from the DLP lapdogs. Don’t leave your house because a vehicle can run into you if you venture outside. Stop trying to justify the indefensible. The students defiantly marched and proved their point beyond doubt. The conditions were not that bad to cancel the much anticipated March. Only Skerrit’s lackeys will give credence to this poor and ill- thought-out decision commonplace with Skerrit and his obedient disciples.
Who from Dominica is responsible for sending over 40 Haitians to SKN from Dominica ? Is this an election stunt or is it in the interest of the Labour Party in SKN or Dominica or that of the ruling Unity Party? Stop you all dirty ways and remember God doesn’t like ugly.
Is there ANYONE left in this skerrit- damaged country who does NOT get it?
It was raining two days straight prior to the youth rally. Roads were blocked, rivers and drains over flowed. This weather you can say was raining cats and dogs yet you all allowed children… children to go to school in that weather! Why didn’t you all call off school then. You still allowed them to go.
Now this light rain was no excuse to cancel the rally when in past years they allowed students to march in the rain.
The pm should have listened to his students the future. They wanted to march so let them march, they were bawling their lungs off demanding that they wanted to march knowing the condition of the weather. He should have given them what they wanted so you mean to say no one has ever walked on wet grass before or a wet road? Smh
Who run tings in Dominica? Asking for the youth!
Dominican children show the whole world that they wont be taken for granted. You will have to respect the next generation. The wont be push overs like their parents!
It’s clear as day that you all are making excuses for Skerrits unpreparedness. 1) If inclement weather was the cause, then it’d be cancelled well in advance. 2) Rain doesn’t stop the event, we march regardless as in past years. If it’s too heavy, we wait it out. Mud is not an issue because they are marching and if it was that’s more telling on the grounds keep of the stadium. Nevertheless the footage doesn’t reflect that. 3) At the time of the announcement, there was no rain and the sun was out and shining, rendering the entire excuse as false. 4) Skerrit came late and instantly violated protocol. Disrespecting the students.
Shame on the MoE for trying to lie for this man but many of us are wise to the nonsense going on. Unprofessional and disappointing that they’d go this far to justify the act. Keep bootlicking for your living.
In solidarity with the Young people I say boycott the military parade on Sunday. The ground is still wet.
If you can do that to children what else cant you do.
Calling om nurses, firemen, policemen scouts and others to stay home.
Lies, lies and more lies. I have marched and seen students marched in rain many times. The weather pattern is normally the same from year to year. Chandler, you should be ashamed of yourself, you were all mixed up because you were lying. The students were sitting there from 8 a.m, the PM arrived late and in the end tried to remind the students that “he runs things in Dominica!”
The country is in the state it currently is because some people refuse to be sincere to DOMINICA and not political parties, because of Skerrit mismanagement of the country we are having this discussion. but they want to blame Lennox and they will not call out Skerrit wrong doings.
I feel bad for the children because they worked real hard practicing for that. In fact just before PSS students left for Roseau this morning they were seen at Borrow square practicing. But God works in ways we don’t understand because I didn’t want my children to participate in that nonesense. Why should our children whose future Skerrit and Savarin have destroyed find it in them to salute them for the last time? I know Skerrit took the decision to boycott these children since he knows he destroyed their future while he prepared a bright future for his children but I must admit that it was devinely appointed.
You hear lie?
Well look lie!
Ministry of education, is now crowned king of the lying competition..
It’s all about taking the blame for an evil man.
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
OMG, you should have used the toilet before, what a nuisance you are! Is that the person who wants to go overseas and represent DA! The man had to put his hand on his pants to keep the little boy down. What an embarrassment.
The youths of Dominica has a strong sense of what is right they have more strength than most adults in Dominica and they are not blinded by money that the pm use to buy the people rights
Bravo, Mr. Linton! You stepped up to the plate and saved the day for our most precious resources, our children. True patriots always rise to the occasion. They heal not hurt. Mr. Skerrit wounded the children’s emotions and you, Mr. Linton, came to their rescue and healed those hurt feelings. Your intervention was a display of astute and mature leadership before the whole nation. Skerrit should bow his head in everlasting shame.
Continue to promote lawlessness, as you blindly support stupidity. The government is the only institution on island that can decide on wether children should march and a decision was taken not march. We now have a new problem in Dominica very rude children lacking discipline, and it is going to get worse. Fault the government for calling off the march but it was their call and the children should have accepted it even if they were upset. For the UWP and its leaders to support such rude behavior is indeed worrying. Do you believe that these students will be all humble and law abiding under a UWP government (if that ever happens). Remember you can only reap what you sow.
do you undertstand the definition of lawlessness? PM left, LL stood in, nothing about that breaks the law. Sending a white man to set up the opposition leader is lawless… stealing 1.2 Billion Dollars is lawless… giving away all our resources to the Chinese is lawless! Undertsnd the accusations you make before you make them!
A new problem? A new problem you say. Where have you been these past 20- 25 years? The march was called off because the PM wanted to be somewhere else, like the ground breaking of a certain hotel in the Roseau Valley. In short, the youth were abandoned. That did it did rain but not as much as let on. The grounds were walk able as i myself have marched in mud and plenty dust in my youth in high school. Stop making excuses for nonsense. I am fed up of you people making nonsense excuses for grown people who cannot push the envelope and do more for our country. Sooner or later the youth will make their voices heard. Play with them still.
No excuses for Dr. Smell-E-Dick. Total disrespect for the children so they showed the fake Dr. who really run things. Because you tired from a night of bon-temp and running late is not an excuse to walk out on the children. Now take that in your AS. God bless Lennox who just happened to be the right place at the right time to show how much of a statesman he is. A true patriot and visionary to respond so elegantly. The children should never forget.
So DNO you posted this and left out my comment? I was just saying that Mrs Hyacinth should be ashamed of herself to come up with this excuse and that the weather patterns have been the same year after year. I marched under rain and have seen many students marched under rain also. The PM wanted to reiterate that “he runs things in Dominica”. Thank you for posting.
SAFETY??!!! B***S***
Skerrit was the one ho cancelled the march past because he just came from Barbados, tired and had other plans for this afternoon. Skerrit don’t care about your kids feelings.
I find it strange the MOE was not concerned about the children’s safety yesterday (the day before the rally). The weather was much worse and they had students rehearsing in the pouring rain in the water logged Windsor Park Stadium Moments before the decision was taken today. Those same students were allowed to perform in the rain, even rolling on the ground and some students were on stilts. Where was the concern for safety there. Honestly I don’t see how marching across the field with no rain or even light drizzle would pose a problem. I really expected a better excuse. Many more schools were prepared to go on to the field and March, but they were barricaded by an ambulance and other vehicles. The scouts and Cadets opened the Rally and they were expected to close it by drilling and their usual March through the streets of Roseau. How can you tell a Cadet not to drill because of rain? They are trained for occasions just like this! This is not about politics it is about…
As a teacher and a parent of a child that was really hurt by this event, I agree 100 percent.
I guess if the children studied for an exam and the exam was cancelled, they would enter the exam room and do the exam. We continue to promote and encourage lawlessness in Dominica at all levels. The ministry took a decision, some might disagree but it was their call and it should be respected.
Your analogy is rather preposterous. One man arbitrarily decided to disappoint the students. It is this “I run things” mantra that has the country in its sorry and deplorable state. You put a pig in a palace it still remains a pig.
@Anon
The lawlessness that you, an unadulterated hypocrite should condemn was when foreign mercenaries went to patriot Linton’s home, one with something concealed under a jacket.. Your wicked soul..You have been moo moo about it. Skerrit told you no law not even the Constitution can stop him..Throw hot water on them and tell them get off from Skerrit’s step. Go to their car windows and call them traitor…You are obviously suffering from memory loss, or maybe you are just darn wicked like Skerrit..
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Imagine being this much of a boot licker
Sot. Anon. I don’t think you live in Dominica. Don’t you know that it was skerrit, not the ministry of education that make that decision. As a teacher with insiders in the moe, it’s TRUE. A lot of the education officers wash their hands and had nothing to say when skerrit made that decision. As a matter of fact I know of 2 education officers who were telling the children to March, don’t worry , just March. So stop being partisan Anon. And find sources with credible information.
Lennox Linton looked ‘cock-a-hoop’ standing there taking the salute of a bunch of rebellious children all for political expediency. However, Mr Linton should be worried that he encouraged this behavior whereby compromising the health and safety of the children involved and i hope that there is provision within the laws on the grounds of health and safety that can take him and other members of the opposition involved, to task for their involvement.
The organizers of the event made a decision to curtail the march-past after assessing the situation based on health and safety, due to the condition of the ground, it wasn’t Mr Linton’s and other opposition members call to encourage the children to march anyway. If i were a parent of the children involved, i would be pursuing my own legal action against Mr Linton and the other opposition members involved.
You say this with no regard to the amount of times the students missed classes just to practice for this
Huh???
Why don’t You think of how the young people of Dominica are now feeling
Whether embarrassed or disappointed which ever and also think of how foreigners are wondering why did the PM cut it off or should I say walk out on the students after being late and still giving them one hell of a speech
This would not be the first time that they would be having youth rally under rain so this is nonsense
What a bunch of load of CRAP. Lennox Linton never encourage the students to do anything. The students were seen saluting to an empty stand where officials would have been. Mr Lennox Linton as an official occupied a rather vacant position to support the idea that today was a day for the youth to represent and showcase who they are.
But wait how was that illegal?
What law did Mr. Linton go against.
You cannot say pursue legal actions against Linton no one told Linton to stand there the children wanted to do it so why take legal actions. Everything Linton did he was right to. Students marched pass he was the highest ranking person there he acknowledged the students. I am happy that he did it shows that he will be there for the youth and not run off with some lame excuse as to little drizzle.
Safety? So they soleil chaud we used to have to stand up in while those blowhards talk and talk and talk until people children was fainting is safe? Stupes
That’s a public relations bluff.
It’s been raining all week….was students safety taken into consideration to settle debts with Dense shillingford?
What could you do next year if rain is expected? Call off de entire event? Pave the grounds?
A decision was made over your head and you trying hard to defend de position of the min of education
The last i checked Dominica is in a tropical marine climate and rainy days in a year may outnumber dry days. The only things that should stop a match is strong winds, heavy prolonged showers and lighting. The kids have demonstrated true patriotism while our leaders behave like a bunch of whimps. Where in Dominica that does not have soggy ground? That is the dumbest excuse i have ever heard. No wonder our policemen ran home during maria we are not only cultivating beggars but whimps. It had been rain2 for a few days so obviously you would have known the ground would be wet so why not postpone. Secondly there is a met office that gives weather forecast so we should know weather conditions for day so we either postpone to later time or date. The country is really ran by a Jack As. My advice to the students of Dominica tbe future of this country is yours to have so if you guys sit by and watch one man mess yall future up then you have yourself to blame. You guys should lead the change.
It was the prime minister who made the decision. They placing the blame on the MOE but it was skerrit. Didn’t you all see him get up during the performance.
I totally agree and this a decision that any caring and devoted leader and sujects should take for the better well being and health of its future generation. It’s not about taking the salute. I deeply feel for the stuf2nt who converted their energy and time I to performance for this special day, but tree heir health is much more important. Decision well made Ms. Hyacinth God bless Dominica
You agree because you are not intelligent enough to know when people are twisting your mind!
Their lies you are unable to detect.
What subject are you talking about. Are you saying that the people are subjects? This shows your servile mentality. So Dominica is now a monarchy and Skerrit is King. With people like you, Glenda, no wonder the country is in such a deplorable and backward state. Dominicans vote for servant leadership not for a king to rule over them.
So wait a while those who danced in the rain, rolled on the “soggy” grass they didn’t care about their health and safety especially those on stilts?
What about when it was heavily raining on Wednesday and Thursday? If he cared about safety and health why let his people go out in such weather, travel long distances in that weather? No sense Friday’s light rain compared to the showers is nothing
@Glenda Bedminidtet
For the future well-being of the youths? You hypocrite we need Dr Thomas the surgeon back for the future well being of our youths.Your accomplished hypocrite..Go tell evil and wicked Skerrit that.
I fully support the students!
Skerrit
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Whey is di money?
Glenda BED-minister, your conscience has been idle for far too long or it has been surgically removed. No one with a conscience or a minimum of common sense will concur with you nor Skerrit. It’s pellucid, Skerrit treats his fellow Dominicans like stale food and foreign contractors, advisors, corrupt diplomats like gods. People like you, Brenda, distort reality to defend this notorious, congenital liar.
Wait. Safety of wet grounds. Not road, land and rock slide, or flooding and raging rivers safety? Okay. Well. Correct me if am wrong to ask but… Where are the white carpets? Let’s see if they will be there on Sunday.
I feel sorry for you left holding the can Chandler. We all know that is a cock and bull story. It was El Supremo himself, who decided that and we all know it. First of all he keep those kids waiting by being very late with no explanation and then he disrespect these children who want to show off they practice so long for. No man, you have not a good character. What was so urgent you had to go to Barbados for when your place is here for our independence That was very stupid.The children will ask their parents how they can vote for a man like you brother. Take your blows.
Chandler, that is all rubbish!
You should be ashamed to talk that bull; I was born in Dominica in the village of Wesley; Dominica is a tropical island where while it rain everyday, the sun simultaneously shine.
I can tell you I lived in Europe, and know what is termed “sogginess,” whereas there are people in Dominica less intelligent than you who may take your nonsense for granted; learn what the term sogginess means:
It simply means heavy wetness; it is the condition of containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water).
There is no mystery to that; Roosevelt must have told you to stop the event!
Temperature in Dominica range from 70-84 degrees; humidity 75% daily!
Normal barometric pressure is typically around 101.325 kPa / 1013.25 mbar / 760 mmHg / 29/921 inHg. Pressure rarely increases or decreases more than 1 inch of mercury (3.386 kPa / 33.86 mbar / 25mmHg) above or below the 30-inch mark.
Stop lying!
When asked if the Ministry of Education would allow students to march later on during this independence season, she said decisions will be made based on the conditions at the time and she cannot predict what will be done in the future.
Hyacinth said that for next year’s youth rally, plans will be put in place for the possibility of bad weather during that time.
Were we born big and stupid? What are those two paragraphs from the ministry of education suggest?
Is she saying that although she is unable to predict the future, and nobody can, that this was the first time that there has been inclement weather during the November independence celebrations? Or is she just happy to reactive as opposed to being proactive?
These people like her who are puppets to Roosevelt believe they are smarter than the rest of us, they don’t seem to realize that some of them are limited academically.
Take them out of their political appointed position, and engage them into an elementary conversation.
You will find their knowledge are no higher than that of a kindergarten graduate!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
They enter school in kindergarten, and left kindergarten without graduating!
That’s no lie.
When I entered Kindergarten called ” Stage One,” I met a certain fellow there, I left him in stage one, that is where he finished.
He immigrated to England in the 1950’s, can’t read or write: I don’t know how he got it but; he had his own performing act on a Television Station in England.
The man did a balancing act every Saturday morning.
He sat on his bicycle and remove any part, and replaced them; anything that looks like magic he performed.
I know him name but I doh calling it…
In recent times this administration has made several faux pas which is going to work against them. The mood of the electorate has changed and it has trickled all the way down to the youth. Take heed Labour administration. People sick of ya’al.
Lies lies and more lies. The sun was bright, shining even. Why isnt anyone talking about the vehicles that tried blocking the entrance to prevent us from entering the fields and marching, almost running us over in the process?! Authoritarianism !
Dear student, as a teacher and a parent to one 15 year old 5th former young girl who is hurt as well as many others, I support you 100 percent.
If you were so concerned about safety why make them come to the rally in the first place? Was rain not falling since yesterday, was the PM et al not walking on the wet grass in Wesley for the International Airport? Selective safety, we won’t be fooled.
So this is the first time it has rained in Dominica over Independence Day weekend? This is the first time children – or anybody else – get wet because it has rained? After 41 years of Independence, the Ministry of Education JUST NOW thinks that they will have to plan for rain in the future?
What a crock!
DNO minor edit: it’s March pass not past, thanks.
ADMIN: The term is march-past:https://www.dictionary.com/browse/march–past
So why wasn’t the entire event cancelled, Rosalie river is over the bridge. Why let them come out in the first place?