Monday, 08 February 2010 12:43
The 50 Solomon Islands medical students currently studying in Cuba are
pleading for assistance.
The students in a letter to Solomon Star said they have not received any
allowance since June last year.
"We the 50 Medical Students are very concerned about our situation in
which our Allowances were not paid on time and are still yet to be
received," they said.
They said the situation is affecting them badly as six weeks of academic
classes for 2010 has already started.
"The three responsible authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry of Education
and Human Resources have to reconsider the time period of six months
late payments to cater for a new semester and pay us completely."
"Furthermore when our money reaches us, it is normally very late and
study materials and stationeries were never purchased during the course
period.
They said that they were also concerned with the fact that a huge
deduction has been imposed on their allowances.
"The Government pays us in US Currency which has to be converted to Euro
Currency and later when it reaches us in Cuba we have to convert it to
the Cuban Moneda Nacional and at the end, heavy deductions have been made.
"We kindly ask the responsible authorities to respond to our issues
positively," the students said.
They said they want the Cuban scholarship award to be included in the
Ministry Of Education System so that their allowances are paid on time
rather than depending on Funds from Iran and Portugal.
"We have been raising our issues through relevant Government officials
during their visits and we know that promises are not good to bank upon.
"We feel that two years of patience is enough and we want responsible
authorities to listen to the plight.
"We heard of the US$100 000 dollars for 75 Solomon Islands Cuban Medical
Students but we sincerely request the Government to solve our two
semester outstanding allowances promptly.
"We are running out of patience and cannot believe visiting leaders who
always made unworthy promises or sometimes excuses such as problems with
Bank transfers and embargos imposed against Cuba.
"We ask our Parents and Guardians to help us with our situation. Few
Government representatives who have visited us have experienced and know
exactly what we have stated.
"We understand the Economic Crisis that our country went through however
we want our outstanding allowances dealt with accordingly with on funds
that were secured for it."
Health students pleads to gov't from communist Cuba (8 February 2010)
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/2658-health-students-pleads-to-govt-from-communist-cuba
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