Roseau, Dominica – March 19, 2008………. On a visit to the Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth recently, Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit highlighted the contribution of the School to Dominica’s development.
The Dominican Leader was invited to the School last month to assess for himself the recent expansion in new facilities at the university campus.
During the visit the Prime Minister officially opened the Campus Activities Centre and a new Post Office at the Ross University campus and held discussions with senior officials at the School.
Highlighting the contribution of Ross University to Dominica’s development, the Prime Minister said:
“Ross has allowed poor farmers to become millionaires in Portsmouth. Ross has allowed several persons in and around Dominica to make a living for themselves and their families. And Ross has in fact made a tremendous contribution to the economic well-being of our country. We in Dominica owe a deep gratitude to Ross University for its continued commitment to Dominica.”
The Prime Minister revealed that in the last year $27 million ECD had been spent on the construction of new facilities at the campus as well as a new auditorium at the island’s main hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital.
Hon. Skerrit also underscored the impact of Ross University on the economic landscape of Dominica. According to the Prime Minister two hundred and twenty (220) Dominicans are currently employed at Ross.
The Prime Minister also pledged his government’s commitment to continue working in partnership with Ross University for the benefit of the School and the Government and people of Dominica. He also expressed his desire to see the School expand.
During the visit, two full scholarships were granted to Dominicans Silda James and Ashley Esdaile to study at Ross University. Every year the School provides four (4) scholarships to Dominicans who meet the criteria.
Remarks during the Prime Minister’s visit also came from the President of Ross University School of Medicine, Dr. Thomas Shepherd, Dean of Ross University School of Medicine, Dr. Mary Coleman and Professor Gerald Grell, Dean of Clinical and Academic Affairs.
Ross University School of Medicine is celebrating thirty years in Dominica this year. The number of students at the institution has moved from less than a dozen in 1978 to over 1200 today.
According to the President of Ross University, Dr. Thomas Shepherd, Ross now produces more physicians to the United States than any other medical school in the world.
