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Dominica's opposition leader denies influencing scholarship

Lennox Linton's says his children got places 'on merit'

Monday, 24th July 2017

Lennox Linton, leader of the opposition in Dominica.

The member of parliament for Marigot and opposition leader has denied claims that he has used his position to obtain scholarships under a programme initiated by the Marigot Development Corporation (MDC).

Last week the MDC said it had secured $6.1-million for 16 students to study in the US. Among them were two of Lennox’s children.

Detractors were quick to pounce.

“Linton not once you can think of the people you represent and put their interest before yours?” one person wrote on Facebook.

“You take two scholarships for yourself [your children] one time, you couldn’t say 1 for me and 1 for another poor person from marigot [sic] child?”

Another wrote on another social media platform: “At least the politician from Marigot could have allowed one other student from Marigot to get help instead of sending his both kids.”

But Linton said on the Q95 radio station last week that he has absolutely no say in how the scholarships are given out.

“Scholarships are at the sole discretion of the schools and the schools alone, it’s strictly a merit based system,” he stated.

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Original source: Dominica News Online