PM Skerrit says replacement for Ross could be announced shortly

Aerial view of Ross University and Picard after Hurricane Maria. Photo credit: Aerial Dominica

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has revealed that the replacement for Ross University is expected to be officially announced soon.

Late last year, after suffering the ravages of Hurricane Maria, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) shut down its operation in Dominica and move its operation to Barbados from January 2019.

RUSM was located in Portsmouth and was a huge source of income for the island’s second town and the country, by extension, for the past 40 years.

The prime minister said during a Cabinet visit to the north of the island on Wednesday that an agreement has been signed with the new investor and the new university will offer more than Health Sciences.

“We have in fact signed an agreement with an investor to start a medical school and also other programs. We will sign the lease agreement with them very soon but we have already given them access to the property. About three months ago, we gave them access to the property so they are doing some repairs, fixing the air condition units, getting the classrooms ready,” he stated.

Skerrit said they have employed staff, deans, faculty, and they have been recruiting students and are waiting for things to be crystallized in order to release an official announcement.

“The developer, jointly with the government, will make an official public announcement giving more details about this but for us, we’re not happy about this ourselves as a government but we’re happy for the people of Portsmouth and the many people who benefited from the university here and many of them who have mortgages especially the apartment owners,” he explained.

He said they have a five year lease with the investor with the option to purchase the campus after the five years would have elapsed.

“So we are working very closely with him, we went through the licenses. Once those things have settled we’re hoping God willing, by the grace of God we’re hoping that we can start the university soon but again in the next few weeks there will be a formal presentation to the public with more details,” he said.

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45 Comments

  1. ME
    July 8, 2019

    We will be right back after this commercial break…
    waste of time fellas :lol: :-D :!:

  2. time has told
    July 8, 2019

    we dont want nonsense. We want integrity, we want standards, we want honesty we want accountability we want sustainability, we want proper health care, we want a rise in minimum wage and government workers to get a raise, we want an international airport since 2001, we want a few other things. But they are allll good for Dominica. what we dont want is rushed roads with poor gutterings, housing that doesnt match the landscape or the culture of the people who they are intended for, we dont want leaders who dismiss us when we ask questions, we want leaders who answer sensistive questions like where the 20 million left of the Kalinago money and not try to belittle us for asking. we want all that is good for us. But we want it done properly by respectful people who do not abuse their power. That is not about being a hater. If i spoiling the food daily and expect you to eat it and be happy, the moment you complain about it, would you be think i am fair for calling you a hater? No the food sp

  3. Ibo france
    July 6, 2019

    Oh, how I wish this Labour Government was efficient, effective, visionary and people oriented. That they would have created the requisite environment for all ambitious people to empower themselves. I wish they were a honest, transparent government and accountable to the people. I earnestly hoped they would have promoted unity and not division, fairness not victimization, magnanimity not self-interest and egomania. They MUST GO for the vast majority of Dominicans to breathe a HUGE sigh of relief. Labour’s tenure has destroyed the soul of the nation. I challenge anyone to dispute these. Dominicans, today, are more criminally minded, hostile, disrespectful, lazy, uncaring, unambitious, unapproachable, dishonest and selfish. The citizens take their cue from their government. If the government is criminal, the society becomes a crime infested place. The time is ripe to change the present nakedly corrupt regime.

  4. Lin clown
    July 5, 2019

    That is why UWP cannot win an election,too many uneducated supporters.Skerrit has never talk about some thing he cannot do.Night Landing was a lie.Stadium was a lie.Grammar School was a lie.E O Leblanc Highway was a lie.Free school bus service was a lie.Clear Harbour was a lie.Yes we care was a lie.Free college was a lie.Jungle Bay was a lie.Kempinski was a lie.The only true thing is ALEX GOEBBELS BRUNO fake polls.Everything thing SKERRIT say for UWP is lie.Untill he put it in their mouth and it comes out their A.These people are so DUMB.Day after day,year after year SKERRIT keep making these FOOLS look more FOOLISH.He could not FREE our STUDENTS from FIDEL CASTRO,what happen?With These UWP lazy,lying ,uneducated ,idiots its the same OLD …. just a different DAY.

  5. Bwa-Banday
    July 5, 2019

    :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Dr Dr you killing me. All documents not ready yet but they fixing air condition and classrooms? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  6. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    July 5, 2019

    “Late last year, after suffering the ravages of Hurricane Maria, Ross University School of Medicine shut down its operation in Dominica and move its operation to Barbados.”

    Well, don’t make it appear as if it was as a result of hurricane Maria which caused Ross University School of medicine to fled Dominica.

    It is well known that the lack of international access by air is the reason Ross pulled their university out of Dominica.

    It is the lack of an International Airport which caused Ross, Harris Paint, Palmolive Colgate, Dragon Windows, and all the other foreign operated companies to leave the country! 

    This is just another of Roosevelt bogus lies!

    In his mind Dominicans are so shallow, and are easy to forget, all he has to do run his mouth off to get votes.

    The students had a hard time getting to Dominica, overnight in Antigua and elsewhere bleed the students.

    The Antiguan government bleed them by collecting large sums of departure tax to Dominica, that was…

  7. Joseph John
    July 5, 2019

    So the hotels at Portsmouth and Soufriere are all lies. I hope the uwp will call a press conference to expose those lies in their usual vivid verbosity. We know they have great vision and discernment . Remember last election they promised to build hotels in the Kalinago territory. That was a real BOLDFACE LIE for sure. That was a lie , a real lie and nothing but a lie.

  8. Taiwo Williams
    July 5, 2019

    Interesting, however, I recall in 2014 that the Government of Dominica had signed an MOU with Limkokwing University in Malaysia,for the same thing. It was also in election year. What happened with this venture? 8-O 8-O 8-O 8-O 8-O :wink:

    https://www.limkokwing.net/news/article/commonwealth_of_dominica_signs_mou_with_limkokwing_to_establish_campus1

    • Ibo france
      July 6, 2019

      Thanks for the reminder, Taiwo Williams. The article of 2014 explicitly shows how calculating and dishonest Mr. Skerrit and his sycophantic servants are. They have told the country humongous and numerous imaginative tales around every election cycle. They have promised the people to make Dominica heaven on earth on the eve of every election. Invariably, after every election, for the past nineteen years, Dominicans go through unbearable tough times. Their utility bills can’t be paid do their electricity and water get disconnected. Their cupboards are bare just before payday. They find it increasingly difficult to find bus fare to get to work. LABOUR ISN’T WORKING! Out with them.

  9. Joseph John
    July 5, 2019

    The state of the art hospital is a lie, the college is a lie, the west coast road is a lie, the housing revolution is a lie, the reconstruction after Maria is a lie. Wow lies raining like stones.
    If those are lies give me more, give me an access of it.
    I hope an pray that the PM policy on Ross and the International Airport would come to fruition because of the tremendous impact it would make.

  10. MR Hector Marie
    July 5, 2019

    I do hope this is not as true as the trip he promised to make to Wesley to speak to them about the sixty million dollars he has to pay Wesley and woodfordhill people about their land acquired for airport . As the word goes they were stood up

  11. time has told
    July 5, 2019

    what we should also consider is where the school and its students are from. American students may spend way more than asian (Indian). their lifestyles are different. How do the surrounding businesses benefit? Also, as we see with the haitians where one person rents an apartment and allows 14 others to come in and live, that kind of culture may also be carried forth with certain “types” of students. A lot to consider. The PM needs to be open and transparent and stop playing these little mind games. IF you dont want to be clear and put everything on the table because you cant yet, then dont say anything. i understand election coming and your time is almost up, maybe, but sensationalism is working against you and seen as lies. I myself have been on the campus recently and i saw no foreigners cleaning up, just a few locals cutting grass and doing repairs from maria still as well as police playing security. that was all. no indication of school coming.

  12. Truth
    July 5, 2019

    You hear lie, , That is lie,. PM, What is the name of the school, Stop lying to the people, I spoke to the lady ,and these people knows nothing about running a school, Election gimmic

  13. REAL!!!!
    July 5, 2019

    Hope is not “Cool Out” money provided to an INTl organization.
    To come in and fool the Portsmouth people/Dominicans at larger with a claim of Ross replacement and short term ground breaking.

    Question: Is this “Cool Out ” going INTL ????

    We cannot trust this GOVT!!!!!!

    • Joseph John
      July 5, 2019

      And people say Dominica poor. We have passport money , beggers money, foreign aid money , tax money , jumbbee money, eyes close money and now cool out money. That is so cool !

  14. RandyX
    July 5, 2019

    He would and he could… Could it be that Skerrit is the biggest liar of the century?

  15. Jonathan Y St Jean
    July 5, 2019

    Pie in the sky. When you spit up in the sky it will fall back down in your eye. Liar your pants are on fire. How many lies is Skerritt going to tell about the airport and the school of medicine? Enough, Skerritt, find something else to lie about.

  16. Flat Tire
    July 5, 2019

    Lol . On thing Pm knows how to arouse his supporters ehh. Every 6 months announce a new school, a new airport, his retirement and melo mills, roselia magloire, delving castro, marvelline breedy,gee Joseph and Morris hyacinth on face book celebrating

  17. John hope
    July 4, 2019

    Workers haters talking sh&&t again. All you best occupation talk and more talk. Its like ull don’t want nothing good for dominica. Jahhhh

    • July 5, 2019

      What do you have to give Dominica? Nothing. Man, you are an empty bag of coal. Shut your mouth. The PM IS DOING HIS UTMOST. All you do is talk and make noise and cannot offer Dominica anything substantial – not even a decent education. Your bum. Empty vessels make the most noise.

    • time has told
      July 5, 2019

      we dont want nonsense. We want integrity, we want standards, we want honesty we want accountability we want sustainability, we want proper health care, we want a rise in minimum wage and government workers to get a raise, we want an international airport since 2001, we want a few other things. But they are allll good for Dominica. what we dont want is rushed roads with poor gutterings, housing that doesnt match the landscape or the culture of the people who they are intended for, we dont want leaders who dismiss us when we ask questions, we want leaders who answer sensistive questions like where the 20 million left of the Kalinago money and not try to belittle us for asking. we want all that is good for us. But we want it done properly by respectful people who do not abuse their power. That is not about being a hater. If i spoiling the food daily and expect you to eat it and be happy, the moment you complain about it, would you be think i am fair for calling you a hater? No the food sp

  18. Braindamage
    July 4, 2019

    Congratulations Mr. Skerrit. I will be sending my application soon.

  19. Poor see direct
    July 4, 2019

    That fake doctor likes to imputate poor people leg without a cause and wants to be worshipped when he gives the a pair of crotches. Man you and your friends from Barbados allowed Ross to run from Dominica and you want credit for a false school that COULD come soon? But that’s good you know because only in Dominica that rubbish would take place. Gaston Brown fighting for LIAT with 200 Antiguans employed and you helped get rid of Ross that had over 2000 Dominicans employed? Boy we are the fools of the Caribbean boy. We were known as the nature island of the Caribbean but Skerrit made us the fools paradise of the Caribbean. If Brown did that in Antigua he would already be forced out. If Mia did that in Barbados she would be out. If Gonsalves of St. Vincent or Harris of St. Kitts did that they would be out. But welcome to the fools Paradise of the Caribbean where Skerrit is lord, king and savior. He has the right to destroy Portsmouth people potatoes garden and they worship him for that

  20. Picard apartment owner
    July 4, 2019

    We have been hearing about three new schools for almost a year, in the mean time we are unable to pay the banks. Mr Skerrit if you have signed an agreement with a new investor you can at least tell Dominicans the name of the investor. As landlords we are tired of your LIES. What about the lawsuit that was brought against Ross University for the landlords? Lies, lies and more lies.

    • Chester
      July 6, 2019

      I bet you have no apartment in Picard. Take me on, on this.

  21. Jack Sparrow
    July 4, 2019

    Which lawyer would recommend you give access to a property with no signed lease. Which investor would do repairs to buildings with no lease in place… Unless… The invester is you Mr. Skerrit.
    Clearly this is a fly by night investor. No real bonified investor would take such chances without having their I’s dotted and T’s crossed.
    But nothing supprises me with this government.

  22. joseph charles
    July 4, 2019

    then say

    “awa, awa not skerrit that ”

    “awa skerrit doesn’t work like that”

    Damn Blasted Liar!!

  23. The Evangelist!
    July 4, 2019

    14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.2 Cor. 11:14-15.
    Here is Jn. 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
    1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith.
    Rev. 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out — that serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world.” Revelation 12:12 –
    “But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”. Resist that lying Satan!!!

  24. Let's Pretend
    July 4, 2019

    Whether could be or will be the people of Dominica must not allow themselves to be fooled again by Skerrit. Let’s remember that it took Ross 40 years to grow the school to one thousand students. The key word in this lie and deception of Skerrit is “replace”. How is he going to replace Ross with another school? Is the so called new school going to start with eleven hundred or more? If the answer is yes then I can understand replacing Ross; but if it’s with a 180 students or maybe 180 CBI citizens pretending to be students, just to deceive us before the election and to be out after the elections, then that’s nothing to be excited over. Furthermore if it’s a real school (though I don’t believe that deceiver), it would take another 30 to 40 years for those landlords to have their apartments full again and by then Almost all of them would be dead. So it’s another deceptive move similar to the one of the 2014 elections when he told us he had the finances and designs for the inter…

  25. Fred Albright
    July 4, 2019

    You doh tired try to FOOL, LABORITES!!!!! SMH

  26. Child of Itassi
    July 4, 2019

    News Flash: The world COULD end tomorrow!!

  27. WeNiceMan
    July 4, 2019

    HUH🤔 🤔

    I swear more and more our PM is getting more incoherent.

  28. %
    July 4, 2019

    Even if you lazy Skerrit find another school, will that be a replacement for Ross? Will it be the same number of students? The same level of economic activity? Employment?
    I have always been referring to Skerrit as a cretin..He allowed Ross to go, then he is looking for glorification before an election by starting from zero with something new, and telling me that it has replaced a 40 year old institution? And he (Skerrit) expects people to “”hay lay hooray”” for that you know!!!
    Wicked!!!!!
    He breaks your leg, gives you a stick to walk, then he expects praises from you in profusion!
    Workerssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
    S m g
    S m g
    Lazy Skerrit Must Go Now

    • Ibo france
      July 5, 2019

      Good analysis, %. Mr. Skerrit has confirmed, by his vacuous statements, that he thinks all Dominicans are idiots. This is just election engineering. He expects his gross incompetence in the mishandling of the RUSM debacle to be swept under the carpet. This institution was responsible for 33% of the country’s GDP. What new entrepreneurial replacement can surpass that? A savvy electorate would never reward such an irresponsible, ignoble, unworthy administration with even an additional day in government.

  29. DA girl
    July 4, 2019

    Why not lease the property instead?

    • WeNiceMan
      July 4, 2019

      [Quote]”He said they have a five year lease with the investor with the option to purchase.”[Unquote]

  30. Mary
    July 4, 2019

    Why everything is a secret ? And very last minute ?

  31. Ibo france
    July 4, 2019

    This man is bent on feeding the citizenry with bogus promises and outright fabrication. When you give the country the authentic documentary proof we will believe. Skerrit has severely tainted the Office of Prime Minister with falsehoods and mischief. His bending of the truth only resonates with his dwindling diehard supporters. The majority of the country has become immune to his unadulterated propaganda. Watch out for false promises coming down your way in torrents. This is the season when Skerrit is at his propagandistic worst.

  32. weh
    July 4, 2019

    Remember the key word “could”

  33. Port Aux Prince Picard
    July 4, 2019

    :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: skerrit pas feb, five year lease mmmm

  34. Zandoli
    July 4, 2019

    Here we go again with his “COULD”.
    Sir, if you have nothing concrete to announce, please remain silent.

  35. RasB
    July 4, 2019

    Why such foolishness? Who is the PM trying to mislead? It takes a minimum of five years to read to a basic medical degree. Which investor would invest funds into a medical school with only a five year lease? What the pm seems to be hinting at is a lease option, but people please be informed that in a lease option the investor at any time during the period of the lease can return the item to the owner with no penalty!!

    The prime minister said…. that an agreement has been signed with the new investor and the new university will offer more than Health Sciences.

    “We have …. signed an agreement with an investor to start a medical school and also other programs. ‘We will sign’ the lease agreement with them very soon but we have already given them access to the property.

    Forgive my folly, which comes first the agreement or the lease? Is the lease not part of the agreement? Why should they be treated as separate entities? Has the doctor been caught lying again?

    • Ibo france
      July 5, 2019

      This is the kind of critical thinking Dominicans should engage in, not just accept any election bait thrown at them. Skerrit has lied repeatedly about the international airport, geothermal energy, rehabilitation of Roseau and numerous other ghostly developments. Why should any sensible person still take this compulsive liar serious? One has to always verify first then believe with this fairytale storyteller. I’ve learnt my lesson well. His mendaciousness knows no boundaries.

  36. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    July 4, 2019

    All these secret “signings” and no details or the who or what. The PM is up to his usual tricks again before an election. How come he does not give details on who did the “signing” and who are these people. It is always a mystery with this illustrious yours truly.

  37. dissident
    July 4, 2019

    IF de agreement is already signed WHO IS DE INVESTOR???? NAME PLEASE?

    When Skerrit says that “we are not happy about this ourselves as a government” what is it that he is attempting to say?
    Earlier in the same statement he says that the developer and the government will be making an official public announcement about the new medical school investment…..i smell a rat!!!!

    Skerrit says that the government went through the licenses…. and once these things have been settled we hoping God willing that the university can open soon.

    Boy…..this man lacks confidence!
    Seriously broke of ideas
    Mariot and Hilton hotel under construction in his head.
    De man just bumping his gums without giving any facts….no names no certainty…..but still has a fools strategy in his pocket waiting to unleash on de helpless Picard landlords.

    Former English professor, PM for 15 years, i can never refer to you as a millionaire, never seen dat kinda …….so de movie ending hen?

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