Students and staff of the Dominica State College (DSC) have made good on their threats to carry out a strike action to protest the state of disrepair in the college and the failure of the government to appoint senior management among other critical issues.
The faculty members and student governing body had earlier warned on Sunday, May 9, that they would embark on a strike action on Monday, May 10, if their requests were not met. The protesters were joined by DPSU General Secretary Thomas Letang and other notable figures.
The demonstrators said they will continue protesting until the following demands are met:
- Payment of 50% salary balance (double bubble) owed since 2017; and incremental salary increase.
- Appointment of a board of governors which had been absent for two years.
- Appointment of a vice president, bursar, registrar, and human resource manager among other top management staffs.
- Renovation of the library, auditorium, computer rooms, classrooms, vocational workshops and other major building facilities.
- Reversing of the decrease of the $4,000 base salary from $3,200 back to $4,000.
To underscore the reasons for their grievances, many of the protesting students and DSC staff took reporters around the college to point out the dilapidated school buildings, broken chairs, fallen ceilings, exposed wirings, and doorless bathrooms. The protesters insist they the structural damage in the college pose security challenges and constitute dangers to staff and students.
DSC President, Dr. Donald Peters, explained that the damage was occasioned by Hurricane Maria and that USD$3 milion has been assigned for the repairs, but for the COVID-19 pandemic which hampered the Chinese contractor from undertaking the renovations. DSC PRO Monelle Alexis also said the same thing and added that the government will do the needful very shortly.
This article is copyright © 2021 DOM767
