The Gavel a Publication of the Hugh Wooding Law School
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THE GAVEL A PUBLICATION OF THE HUGH WOODING LAW SCHOOL VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2 DECEMBER 2017 IN THIS ISSUE: Dominica Hurricane Aftermath: Gate Closed? 3 HWLS Stu- PM vows to continue support for law students dents Caught By Christine St.Marie off Guard The Prime Minister of Dominica, Building Jigsaw 8 Hon. Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit, has as- Puzzles: The sured his country’s law students Caribbeaniza- that they will continue to receive tion of Legal his government’s support as they Education must press on with their studies in the face of the devastation caused by the passage of Hurricane Maria WHAPAXXX! 14 PAMPALAM! this past September. Dominican Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit (left) “We need you educated, trained so remain focused, exercise dili- was greeted with a round of ap- Meme now more than ever,” Dr. Skerrit gence and remember together we plause by attendants. Competition 18 told a gathering at the St. Theresa aspire, together we achieve,” Hon. Roman Catholic Church, Barataria, St. Jean told them. The Prime Minister reminded his on November 25. The Prime Minis- listeners that climate change is real, ter was invited to address the audi- Dr. Skerritt also took the opportuni- alluding to the effects of Hurricane 20 ence during a thanksgiving mass. ty to express his gratitude to the Maria, which left 90% of Dominica’s A Tribute to The celebrant was Fr. Elton Letang, people of Trinidad, for their over- Housing sector damaged, 31 dead Mrs. Dianne who is Dominican by birth. whelming support following Hurri- and 34 missing (as released by the Marshall Holdip cane Maria, which ravaged the Dominica Police Force earlier this Dr. Skerrit was accompanied by the island on September 18, 2017. month). “We are on the frontline of Dominican Minister of Education, this real threat to our existence. He stated that the support by Trini- Our response must be united and And more Petter St. Jean and Public Affairs Coordinator in the Office of the dad has “lifted our spirits”. He also strong,” Dr. Skerrit stressed. Prime Minister, Missi Henderson. recalled that the first shipment of aid landing on Dominica following The gratitude expressed by the During the meeting, students got Maria, was from Trinidad. “Nothing Prime Minister is extended to HWLS the opportunity to ask questions compares to the spirit of Trinidadi- as the institution has also been and express their concerns regard- ans in times of need as it lifted the providing support, both financial ing their studies. It was in response spirit and souls of fellow Domini- and otherwise to its students. to these questions that the Prime cans,” Dr. Skerrit said. His comment Minister assured that his govern- ment will continue to support its nationals studying abroad. The Prime Minister however urged students “not to give up”, as Domi- nica needs the cadre of skilled pro- fessionals to improve its human resource capacity. His sentiments were reiterated by the Education Minister who also addressed the Dominican Prime Minister Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit with Dominican students and students. “If ever there is a time members of the congregation that Dominica needs you, it is now; P A G E 2 Seasons Greetings from the Gavel Editorial Committee! Our team has Credits grown! From Left: THE GAVEL is the official Chevy Devonish, Renee Atwell, newsletter of the Hugh Arun Baboolal, Wooding Law School Kalesh Loakman, situated at Gordon Street, Mrs Francisca Campbell, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Mr Jason Nathu, Tobago. Mrs Nisha Mathura-Allahar, Christine St.Marie (front), It is published three times a Vishala Khadoo, year by a joint committee of Jonathan Stevenson staff and students. and Aaron Mahabir. Contributions and comments are welcome from staff, students or any other interested parties. QuiTE recognizes individual who is student-centered in Mrs Alana Jameson with his/her approach, is focused on pro- Send all e-mails to: the 2017 Excellence in fessional development and is com- [email protected] Teaching Award! mitted to advancing the development of his/her institution.” Editorial Committee Staff: The Quality in Tertiary Education Nisha Mathura-Allahar (QuiTE) Awards 2017 lauded one of The criteria for the award takes into Jason Nathu our very own course directors. The consideration: teaching and learning Accreditation Council of Trinidad and strategies; professional develop- Rudranath Maharaj Tobago has introduced this award ment; leadership in training; and which recognizes the research-led teaching. Editor at Large: Congratulations Mrs. Jameson! “accomplishment of an outstanding Imran Ali Editor, Design and Layout If she detected a mistake, she corrected you & Photography: This outpouring of love and respect is fully deserved Dianne Marshall-Holdip: Vishala Khadoo For many years our country and region she served Arun Baboolal My Tribute A cultural icon, no one knew lyrics like Dianne did Like she had a photographic memory under her lid Jonathan Stevenson A woman of impeccable integrity by Hazel Thompson-Ahye Aaron Mahabir A pity we don’t all do the right thing like she Christine St.Marie Dianne Marshall Holdip, our own Lady D People like her don’t come along often, her going was Born in Grenada, but a true, true Trini swift Chevy Devonish A loving daughter, wife, and mother Celebrate her life and thank God for His beautiful gift. Kalesh Loakman Malcolm would never find another Renee Atwell Thirty-four years of a very happy marriage Dianne and Malcolm, always together like horse and Extended thanks to carriage The fruits of their union, beautiful children, all three Francisca Campbell for Jarryd, Arielle, Yannick as you can all see. her assistance. Carnival fete, calypso tent, steel- band yard She always there and she jamming hard Disclaimer: Calypso and Carnival judge, so fair Please be advised that the Her knowledge and expertise beyond compare. views expressed in the articles contained herein are When law students needed food or clothes to wear those of the individual Matter fixed, Mother Dianne to the rescue was there authors and not the of When a government would not pay a student’s fee the Editorial Committee/ Aggressive fundraising by Dianne we’d see Hugh Wooding Law School Impossible, was not in her vocabulary and/ or But love, understanding true meaning of charity the Council of Legal A walking thesaurus, her grammar, pure and true Education. T H E G A V E L P A G E 3 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2 Gate Closed? HWLS Students Caught Off Guard By Jonathan Stevenson and Aaron Mahabir A surprise cut-back in government funding forced newly enrolling Trinidad and Tobago students at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) to dip into their own pockets to cover their fees for the 2017-2018 academic year. Incoming students were formally advised by notice from the HWLS of the new fees on August 15 – a mere two weeks before the registration deadline. Previously, all tuition fees for TT students had been covered by the government’s Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme. Repeating students were also advised in the August 15 notice that they would now be gramme will not fund the tuition fees for any prices. The government has moved to cut required to pay the full cost of tuition for re- student who repeats a year. Students are overall spending, particularly in transfers and enrollment. In the case of new students, reg- expected to progress from Year I to Year II in subsidies. istration fees rose from TT$820.00 to order to continue access funding. TT$13,945.00. Repeating students were re- In 2016, the TT government announced that quired to pay TT$94,524.61. In the case of incoming students, The Gavel GATE funding would be provided based on also understands that the $13,945.00 fee the student’s ability to afford tertiary educa- One student who spoke with The Gavel said (which includes compulsory fees) is only a tion, introducing a means test to replace the she had been required to repeat a year in portion of their tuition fees for Year I. The previous regime of automatic qualification for order to complete her legal education. Unable government is expected to make up the bal- full funding for new students. to come up with the money, she said she ance of the fees. could not re-register. The student said that In his budget presentation on October 02 for the realization was a “life-shattering mo- Incoming students were advised by the HWLS the 2017-2018 financial year, TT’s Finance ment”. that they could have applied to the GATE Minister Colm Imbert confirmed that means Under the GATE programme, TT’s govern- programme for amelioration of the new tui- testing would be the way forward to keep the ment pays the tuition fees for its nationals tion fees they now had to pay. The Gavel has GATE programme accessible for all, as govern- studying at the HWLS. Students are required no information as to whether how many stu- ment could not continue to foot the pro- to sign a contract with the government to dents followed this advice and whether any gramme’s $700 million price tag. He said the access the funding for each year of registra- student applied received additional funding. programme would also be subject to “further tion. review and adjustment” in 2018. The cut-back is one of the latest in the tertiary Details of the fee changes were still unclear at education sector as the TT government con- The Gavel’s investigation into GATE funding the time of publication, but in the case of tinues to come to grips with straitening eco- repeating students, The Gavel understands will continue in the next issue.