Photo taken from Lambird’s Students Beg: “Please, Help Us!” video
A group of Asian nationals who were allegedly scammed by an education institution which was given full approval status by the government said despite many attempts to meet with the new government this has proven futile.
One of the alleged victims of the ‘Lambirds affair’ who asked not to be named, said the group of remaining students had penned two letters to the Prime Minister Allen Chastanet but to date they have not received a response.
The student recalled that it was Chastanet, the new Education Minister Dr. Gale Rigobert and members of the the United Workers Party, who were in the opposition, met with them several times and offered a listening ear.
The Asian citizen said that both Chastanet and Rigobert spoke passionately about how they will help them and would meet with them again, but since they took office no one ever visited them.
According to him, a few of the students also took it upon themselves to visit the Home Affairs Ministry to seek a meeting with a senior official or the minister, but they were allegedly turned away.
“Nobody wants to meet with us. We are just here living hopelessly everyday,” the student told St. Lucia News Online on Monday.
The student said the group is just seeking to have a word with a senior government functionary to understand what is being done to ensure that the matter is resolved at the soonest possible time.
Having to deal with countless court adjournments, ongoing issues with the facilities we were assigned and no one visiting or updating us about the plans is enough reasons to feel neglected, said the student.
The prime minister who spoke recently about the case said “the situation “stinks” and he would like to see it resolved, but there isn’t much that can be done by the executive branch of government.
The court hearing scheduled for August 24 for the human trafficking charges was adjourned again until October 4, 2016. The matter concerning money laundering charges is set for September 27, 2016.
Some 22 persons who were allegedly scammed by Lambirds Academy are still on Saint Lucia and are having difficulties returning to their home countries.
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