Assembly, Senator Ernie Lawrence Jno Finn recommends the implementation of National Arts and Education Proposals aimed at enhancing Dominica’s education system.
Senator Jno Finn states that it was interesting and encouraging to listen to Ambassador Asa Banton, along with others on a Panel with Dominica’s Prime Minister recently, expressing his vision for the music industry in Dominica.
“While I compliment the start of this conversation, it would be more productive and efficient to put in place a consortium of stake holders, and also furnish not only the relevant ministries, but particularly the stakeholders of the entertainment and creative arts industry with a work plan for the advancement of the music industry in Dominica”, the Senator stated.
“The reason for this suggestion comes from the fact that in the conversation with the Prime Minister, his responses were always in the third person, detached from the long existing problem.
“We in the United Workers Party team Dominica are not encouraged by the Prime Minister’s “pawol”, since is parle selman I ka parle’, we therefore take this opportunity to remind him that he has sat on this for twenty (20) years, two (2) decades, first as Minister of Education and currently as Prime Minister. What has he done for the music industry? Why does he speak to the issue so detached and as an observer?” the Senator questioned.
“Mr. Skeritt needs to take full responsibility for the neglect and lack of adequate modification of the education system, the arts, and culture segments of our society.
“Nonetheless, we welcome the fact that he has recognized his neglect, and take the opportunity to put forward our recommendations to start remedying the problem:
1. Establish the soon to be Goodwill Secondary School into a national Arts, music and vocational institute
2. Upgrade the Castle Bruce and Portsmouth Secondary Schools to multi-disciplinary art, music and vocational secondary schools.
3. Revisit the primary schools in Dominica with the view to extend those which are conducive to house junior secondary high school students, that is, forms 1 to 3 as it used to be before.
“These initiatives will take into consideration the country’s resource limit, both human and financial, and therefore put it to more efficient and productive use. With this strategy the needs of students will be met while at the same time expand our human capacities in the arts and skills components.
“Team Dominica offers these recommendations in the spirit of unity and national development.
We are positive that our recommendations will be taken in the same spirit of unity and national development” she ends.
