Lambirds students.
A group of former Lambirds Academy students who were scheduled to leave Saint Lucia on Monday, June 8, are now clueless as to what will happen next and are worried about their future.
A student who asked not to be named said neither he nor anyone of his friends, was ever contacted to say what the next move would be. Officials had informed the group of the change in plans on the day before their departure.
The worried student told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today that no one from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) or the Government of Saint Lucia has contacted them since.
The student said he is worried about his future and what lies ahead for him. He believes that the legal matter could extend into several years and he is not willing to stay here throughout the entire case.
He told SNO that he was happy when he first heard that he was going to have the opportunity to return home, but he is not sure whether the government and the IOM will carry through with these plans.
While the student wants to have a full refund of the money he paid to undertake a course with Lambirds Academy, he also wants to be able to restart his life and see his family back in Nepal.
Another student who spoke with SNO on condition of anonymity said he too have not heard anything from the government or the IOM, about plans for their future.
The student said that based on unconfirmed statements being made by his fellow colleagues, the government may be looking to have them relocated to more comfortable apartments.
He along with several others students are staying at the Pastoral Centre in Gros-Islet.
A group of about 12 students were expected to depart the island on June 8, while the remaining students were expected to leave on given dates, later this month.
Each of the students was promised that once the case is completed and their monies are recovered, it will be sent to them.
They were all issued statements by local police, which validates this agreement.
However, they were reminded by the officials, that the case could take a maximum of 10 years, or it could be completed in less than two years.
While some of the students are happy to return home, others believe that once they do, they will not receive any justice and lose all their money.
Most recently, one of the female students gave birth to a baby. The female student said she is ready to return home with her baby.
This publication made contact with the Ministry of External Affairs for a comment, but was told that Minister Alva Baptiste is currently out of state.We were referred to the Home Affairs Ministry and was told that Minister Victor La Cobinere is not available.