Budget 2022-2023: Dominica PM Roosevelt Skerrit promises to build a new American Canadian School of Medicine

Dominica: Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit promised that the government would construct a new Medical School – the American Canadian School of Medicine, which would replace the Ross University in Portsmouth. The announcement was made during the Budget 2022-2023 presentation on July 26, 2022 (Tuesday).

CSOM Holding Limited will operate the to-be-constructed medical school at the former Ross University Campus in Picard Portsmouth. After the opening on September 2023, the medical school will offer a four-year Medical Degree (MD). Prime Minister informed that the government had commenced the preparations for the building of the new medical school.

This four-year medical degree will be designed for the students who have completed their bachelor’s medical degree and will be managed by an experienced team comprising doctors who have held various positions in major universities in the United States, including a former Vice President of Operations of the Ross University School of Medicine. Expectedly, most students are expected to come from Canada, the United States of America, and the Caribbean.

Prime Minister Skerrit announced, “Since the departure of Ross University, the government has received several expressions; I am pleased to announce that after several months of negotiations government has finalized and entered into an agreement with CSOM holdings limited for the operation; of a medical school.”

“I urge all Dominicans to be prepared for the opportunities which will be created with the return of a medical school to Portsmouth. We all are optimistic about the potential of this new school and its positive impact on Dominica and on the people in the north in particular,” he added.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit further highlighted that with the return of a medical school to Portsmouth, the government is optimistic about the potential of this new school and its positive impact on Dominica and the people in the north in particular.

The construction of this university will contribute to the flourishing of the region. It will also offer direct or indirect employment to the people residing in Portsmouth.

The Ross University School of Medicine was relocated to Bridgetown, Barbados, for the beginning of the 2019 spring semester after Hurricane Maria destroyed 90 percent of Dominica in 2017.