A SHAME to the country is imminent as local medical students studying in Cuba plan a mass boycott of exams due to non-payment of their outstanding allowances.
The students, in an email said Solomon Islands ambassador to the United Nations in New York Collin Beck has broken to them a very discouraging news which may result in the boycott.
They said exams are looming and they will boycott the exams if the government continues to shame them with finance.
The students said the initial plan was for a doctor who was travelling to Cuba to pick up one of the student who was mentally ill, to bring their awaited outstanding allowances.
“However we were just informed by Mr Beck through email that no money was sent with the doctor,” the students said.
They said that they have been fooled to end up in that foreign land and got neglected.
“We want our two outstanding allowances paid before the end of this month, if not a proposed boycott is planned and soon to be implemented as it is almost examinations for the first trimester.”
The students said those funding secured in their name may have ended up somewhere as nothing materializes at their end.
“Stop using the name of Solomon Islands Medical Student’s in Cuba to secure foreign funds that will never benefit us.
“We the students in Cuba want to know where and how the funds plastered on our name goes.
“We aware that there were two funding secured that had been used under our name namely the Iran fund and Portugal fund.
“We kindly ask to national Government not to use our name if those funds were not purposely for us.”
They said that it is a shame for them in a foreign country not to be properly financed for unknown reasons.
“We are not demanding the government but it was our rightful allowances that they failed to pay up.”
The Portugal government early this month paid out US$100,000.00 to the Solomon Islands government purposely to meet the students' allowances.
But three weeks on, the students have yet to receive any payments.
They said that they were promised by responsible authorities lately that their allowances will be sent with the local doctor who traveled to Cuba last week.
“But the information we received on the matter from responsible authorities in the Solomon Islands seem to be different from what was told to us by our UN mission in New York," the students.
Mr Beck is also disappointed with the handling of the students' affairs in relation to the delay.
Below is the email sent to the students’ president by our UN ambassador in New York Mr Collin Beck.
“President, I have been informed that Dr Paul did not carry the allowances. I understand it was not processed in time by the bank. I requested more information. They inform me they will send over the funds to New York. I did register my disappointment with them on this administrative matter.
My Counselor will be traveling over to Havana next week; we will look at making some payment during the visit though not in full. I am sorry it has come to this.
Let me assure you I have funds here but will need to see how best to get it through. Unfortunately we have not established a bank account in Havana as yet. Cuban authorities here have assured us they will again assist us.
Once again, I regret breaking this news; I am as disappointed as you all but will ensure some payment will be made in person this month.”
Attempts to talk to the Ministry of Health minister last night were unsuccessful.
By EDNAL PALMER
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