Recent “consultations” asserted “…a decision must be made as how to garner revenues that would… provide for a sound economy. [and] …that casino gaming could meet this need.”1 Sounds like they ran out of aces on economic development!
So. Let’s go to class on a classy alternative to a casino crapshoot – one that could double the economic contribution of tourism! Or perhaps, multiply it by 52!
Caribbean Colleges at the Head of the Class
Many regional “for profit” medical schools offer “second chances” for those unable to enter US or European programs. However, dropout rates, residency “matches” and test passage seem stacked against them with costly tuition and vague chances for practice after graduation. Ultimately, the winners have “proven that they are capable of training students to become physicians in the United States”; these include the “Big Four”: St. George’s in Grenada, founded in 1976; Ross University in Barbados – and American University of the Caribbean (AUC) in Sint Maarten, both founded in 1978; and Saba University, which has graduated physicians since 1989.2
St. George’s University, Grenada
Opening in 1977, St. George’s has expanded beyond medicine, while boasting over “…990 first-year US residency positions, more than any other school in the world” the first 5 months of 2022 – with 40 years of alumni having a “profound effect” on US, Canadian and global healthcare.3 Also among the “Best 168 Medical Schools” in 2012,4 its 6-7,000 students represent nearly 6% of Grenada’s population.5
Ross University, Barbados
One year later, Ross University was founded and has grown to some 3,700 students – with over 650 residency matches in 2019. While headquartered in Miramar, Florida, it represents about 1% of the Barbados population, while approaching 9% of that of Saint Michael.5,6,7
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), Sint Maarten
That same year, Dr. Paul Tien founded AUC, also administered from Miramar, Florida. With a low attrition rate, relatively lower tuition and smaller class sizes, AUC “matched” 315 students in 2019. And its average of 650 students approximates 1-2% of Sint Maarten’s population.8,9
Saba University School of Medicine, Saba
Notably, while headquartered in Massachusetts, the most affordable of the “Big Four” has nonetheless “earned residencies at a rate on par with U.S. and Canadian medical schools… significantly outpace[ing] graduates of other international medical schools.” Saba University’s 200-300 students make up 10-15% of the population, adding a significant contribution to the island economy.10,11,12
Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM), Anguilla and Saint Vincent
And, here in Anguilla, SJSM is headquartered in Illinois but was established in 1999 in Bonaire. The campus relocated to Anguilla in 2010 and opened another in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2014, after the Netherlands Antilles dissolved in 2006. SJSM has 74 residency matches for 2023 from about 250 students, comprising nearly 2% of our population.13,14
…and American University of Anguilla (AUA)
Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, our newest educational sector member signed its MOU in December 2021. Its first class with 5 members has already increased to 24, with many promising plans for the future.15,16
Academic Tourism: 1 Student = 52 Tourists!
Students seldom stay beyond graduation, purchase property or expatriate raw land; as such, they are temporary residents, or “academic” tourists. While these enrollments represent 1-9% of their island populations – and up to 15% in Saba, every week of the year, students represent an equal number of weeklong tourists, renting property and cars, paying duties, taxes, and fees, consuming utilities and dining.
Grenada would need to attract some 340,000 weeklong tourists, and Barbados, nearly 200,000 to match the year-round economic benefits of St. George’s and Ross students, especially with faculty and families. And, it would take an additional 35,000 tourists for Sint Maarten to match AUC’s contribution – while Saint James is already approximating well over 13,000 weeklong tourists, with family and faculty included. AUA is likewise approaching the equivalent of 1,800 weeklong tourists in its second full year!
In fact, attracting 1,500 students would match the equivalent of 75,000 weeklong tourists in Anguilla, about a full year’s average before Covid – with less risk from impacts on traditional tourism. While Grenada and Barbados far exceed this enrollment with just medical schools, additional disciplines of dentistry, nursing and veterinary medicine could shorten the path to this goal. And…While “gaming” revenues are projected at $4.4 Million, Accommodation Tax, alone, has exceeded $30 Million per year – which could be matched by tens of millions in economic activity from just another ~1,200 more “academic” tourists right here in Anguilla!
Graduates vs. Gambling?
Although two of the “Big Four” are on islands with casinos, none of these schools were founded in such places. AUC began in Montserrat and had to relocate in 1998 following volcanic destruction. Ross was founded in Dominica but forced to relocate after Hurricane Maria. Whereas St. George’s, Saba University – and Saint James were founded and continue on islands without casino temptations, that is, unless Anguilla rolls the dice.
Casinos, College – and GST: Chancing Our Future Development
Any responsible parent or serious student aspiring to complete medical school would surely consider the greater community when investing tens of thousands to study and choosing between a gaming “environment” or one with fewer distractions. Such risks and considerations are underscored by a survey of 2,003 UK students in December 2022:17
“Results showed that 71% of students had gambled at least once in the previous 12 months…. rates of ‘moderate risk’ gambling were 20% and ‘problem gambling’ were 17%…Half of all respondents who gamble reported that gambling had impacted their university experience, with 13% having trouble paying for food, 10% missing lectures and tutorials, 10% saying gambling affected their assignments and grades, and 9% struggling to pay bills or for accommodation.”
Since GST would gamble away 13% of all students’ budgets regardless of casinos, and if up to 40% of students reported “moderate” to “problem” habits, with many having “trouble paying for food… bills or [pay] for accommodation” – would up to 53% of all students then risk dropping out due to insufficient funds? Or, would repealing GST and voting No on casinos help Anguilla win over future students, cash in on university opportunities, and ensure the odds for Anguilla’s economic development?
Ask your Minister for a motion to repeal GST – and to vote No on casinos!
This article reflects cultural and economic issues raised on July 5, 2021, at the House Select Committee on GST Public Hearing. 1https://theanguillian.com/2023/03/attendees-at-public-consultation-meeting-object-to-casino-gaming/; 2https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/best-medical-schools-in-caribbean/; 3https://www.sgu.edu/academic-programs/school-of-medicine/facts-and-figures/; 4https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_University_School_of_Medicine; 5https://www.4icu.org/; 6https://medical.rossu.edu/student-consumer-information; 7https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_University_School_of_Medicine; 8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_University_of_the_Caribbean;9https://www.aucmed.edu/about; 10https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saba_University_School_of_Medicine; 11https://www.saba.edu/; 12https://www.princetonreview.com/med/saba-university-school-medicine-1037715#!studentbody; 13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_James_School_of_Medicine; 14https://www.sjsm.org/students-success/; 15https://www.aua.ai/;16https://theanguillian.com/2022/04/mou-signed-with-american-university-of-anguilla-medical-school/; 17 https://www.ygam.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Annual-Student-Gambling-Survey-Feb-2023.pdf;
