Tyrone Reid, Senior Staff Reporter

Some former Canadian licensed practical-nursing students (LPN) have come out swinging against the Professor Michael Patterson-led Marmicmon Integrated Marketing and Communications.

The former students are angry over what they describe as the piecemeal manner in which the company is refunding the CDN$1,500 they paid in pursuit of a dream to live and work in that country.

Last week, The Sunday Gleaner reported that the company was refunding the students' money after the programme, which was designed to give them professional qualifications and a job in Canada, collapsed.

Patterson, who reported the refund plan, did not reveal that the money was being paid in portions.

Not going well

In response to the article, some of the former practical-nursing students charged that the refund was not going as smoothly as suggested by Patterson while others claimed they are yet to receive even one dollar.

"I am one of those students who was a part of LPN programme put on by Pre-University (one of the schools involved with the programme in Jamaica).

"Most of the students, if not all, have scanned and sent copies of their receipts to Mr Patterson's wife as requested by Mr Patterson, but to date only a handful have received any refund and they only received CDN$500 out of their CDN$1,500," claimed one student.

"I sent my receipts from last year November or December and to date have not received any money," added the student who described herself as "broke" in a clear reference to the dire financial straits that many of the persons involved in the programme have found themselves.

"I think you need to get in touch with some of the students to get their views on what has happened and how this has ruined our lives," she added.

Another former student said she felt as if they were bamboozled.

When contacted last Thursday, Patterson said he could not speak to our news team at that time.

Quizzed as to why he failed to respond to questions sent two weeks ago, the professor ended the call abruptly.

Still, hundreds of practical-nursing students in Jamaica who had their dreams of living and working in Canada shattered, are trying to pick up the pieces.

Some have journeyed to Canada in the hope of gaining the required certification to make their postponed dream a reality.

In May 2011, Ministry of Labour and Social Security statistics showed that 352 students were enrolled in the programme and most of them were having difficulties getting the diplomas they signed up for, much less landing a job in Canada.

News of the refund was revealed in a preliminary response from Patterson to a Sunday Gleaner query.

tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com