The Government of Guyana is considering increasing the monthly stipend given to the scholarship students in Cuba, Minster of Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford has said.
According to the Public Service Minister, the students currently receive a stipend of Cdn$50 each month which is paid in cash. The minister told members of the National Assembly that the increase is expected to be revealed in next year’s presentation of the budget.
Westford said there are currently 843 Guyanese students who are studying in Cuba under the scholarship programme. The students attend 15 institutions across 10 provinces in that country. Meanwhile the minister said that there are currently 2 Student Affairs Officers who are responsible for overseeing the students in Cuba; she said, and informed the National Assembly that these officers meet the students on a monthly basis.
PNC/R MP Judith David-Blair had questioned the minister about the stipend provided for the students; she also queried about the regularity of contact that the Student Affairs Officers have with the students.
David-Blair also asked if there was any currently agreement between the governments of Guyana Cuba to facilitate students being easily supported by their parents. According to the PNCR MP, there have been several reports of parents sending various items to their children who were subsequently not allowed access to them.
The minister said she was unaware of this problem and added that there was nothing stopping parents from sending items for their children. The minster said that the government was not prepared to approach the Cuban government on this particular issue.
Meantime, Westford told the National Assembly that 43 students have completed their studies in Cuba and have returned home to fulfill their contractual obligations. She said they have all been able to find employment.
Parliament, the highest decision making forum of the land, should deal with more pressing matters of national significance and not reduced to discussing stipend increase – unless it is within the framework of the budget debate, and students accessibility to items sent by parents. There should be other forums outside of parliament for such ‘trivial’ discussions where parents / guardians get the opportunity to vent such matters.
Come on Minister Westford, were thay all “able to find employment”? I know of some Cuban students who have returned home and are now student trainees with Guysuco. They receive a stipend as against a salary. And they’ll only be properly employed upon completion of their training in 3 years.
the govt. has to find job for them? they get free education and training but they have to look for jobs for themselves. my guess is most would not want to work in guyana anyway.
Their certificates are useless outside Cuba, and possibly Guyana,Russia, and North Korea.Once they work in Guyana they should be fine, being told to remain and develop that nation.
What stipend? Ya rite. get real.
wat stpend yall talkin bout?????When is it gonna be….next 5 years…oh and we do not receive a stipend monthly,we get $200 cuc every 6 months which is equivalent to 225 CAD