Government will ‘facilitate’ Venezuela students’ transfer

With tensions mounting in Venezuela over its economic crisis, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines is at this point refraining from pulling Vincentian students out of the country.

However, should the students decide that they want to complete their studies elsewhere, the Government is willing to facilitate this.{{more}}

This, according to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, as he addressed the matter while speaking on Boom 106.9 SVG’s morning programme last Tuesday.

“After their exams, I am anticipating that all of them will come home; and certainly we will facilitate that,” assured Gonsalves.

The Prime Minister said that he had recently discussed the matter with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the acting Chief Personnel Officer.

“I have received reports out of Venezuela from students… from our ambassador… the Government of Venezuela.”

Of the 28 students currently studying in Venezuela, 12 of them have their final year examinations scheduled for the end of June, with the remainder having their exams on varying dates.

The PM said that he expects the students will want to complete their examinations, and he is hopeful that they pass – especially those in their final year.

“The others, if they want to go back to Venezuela that’s their choice. If they want, they can use the credits from there to go somewhere else.”

He further recalled that in the past, Vincentians studying in Venezuela have made the decision to transfer from study there to Cuba (for various reasons), and this has been facilitated by the Government. (JSV)