Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (Gate) programme is staying. However, he says because of the trepidation over impending adjustments to the programme, it will be reviewed by his Cabinet with a caring eye.
Rowley made the comment while addressing T&T students during his visit to the University of the West Indies' Mona Campus, Jamaica, as he continued activities on his five-day visit to Jamaica.
The session took greater significance after widespread panic among the T&T student bodies across the region in the wake of a media report over the weekend that massive cuts were recommended by the Task Force appointed to review the programme.
This included a proposal that students pay up to one third of their fees. Under the existing arrangements, the cost of tuition is met fully by Government.But as he met with the student body yesterday, Rowley assured them there was no need for any panic.
"We didn't just decide to cut the programme. We had a proper analysis done and that analysis looked at the comprehensive programme, including the requirement to preserve what we are investing in, because the money we are spending on you is an investment in the future of the country," he explained.
He said the review was undertaken as the country was facing a very significant loss of revenue because of collapsed commodity prices internationally.
"That by itself is pushing us to have to close some very serious budget deficits," he added.
He said notwithstanding that, the programme was due for a review after existing for several years and the review was "not meant to backtrack on our commitment to make sure that you all are educated or to be denied an education on the basis that you are not able to pay tuition."
While the purpose of the task force report was to make recommendations on reducing overall expenditure, Rowley said: "We are committed to cutting out the waste, the abuse and the corruption and to ensure the sacrifice we make to pay for your education is the best we can afford."
He said it costs Government $750 million each year to educate Gate-approved citizens and urged those gathered not to take taxpayers' sacrifices for granted.
Noting the high demand for professionals in the field of medicine, he said: "You in the medical field ought not to worry. Even though we become more selective in what we fund, the area of health care delivery is an area of grave shortage in the country."
Cabinet, he added, would meet to discuss the recommendations before any final decision was made "but what I can tell you is that we will review the recommendations with a very caring eye."
Some students got to their feet, asking the PM that even if the decision is that they are to fund even part of their tuition, whether it would be possible to facilitate low interest student friendly loans.
Since 2004, over 65,000 students have passed through the programme.
Happy with trade talks
Commenting on one of his major reasons for visiting Kingston, Rowley said it was "to face down the challenge of a trade war between T&T and Jamaica." He said he was leaving Jamaica "confident that whatever flicker (existed) would not turn into a flame."
In response to a question on the immigration issue involving Jamaicans denied entry into T&T, Rowley said the matter should not be generalised. He said it was "quite a misunderstanding that Jamaicans were being singled out for special treatment and bad treatment in T&T. I reject that out of hand."
Rowley said despite the recent claims about unfair treatment at the Piarco International Airport there were thousands of Jamaicans going about their business in T&T without any problems whatsoever.
"You will see that 97 per cent of the Jamaicans that left to come to T&T, entered with no problem," he said.
Rowley said recent reports about Jamaicans experiencing problems when they attempted to enter the country were only about three per cent. He said some of those in the three per cent "had failed to qualify for entry under permissible arrangements."He said it was "important for the leaders in the countries to say to the travelling population of the region that there are certain restrictions that could apply."
He also said certain immigration officers were being trained and facilities were being established at the airport to ensure all visitors were treated with dignity when they arrived in T&T.
He said during his visit he did not meet "one person who said or implied that we are not better off together and that we are not brothers and sisters in this region."
Rowley's official visit to Jamaica ends today and his address to the UWI students yesterday was streamed live.