There were plenty of smiles and laughs to go around as the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) on Friday (March 11) hosted a welcome home reception party of some of the Jamaican medical students stranded in Ukraine. 

Opposition Leader Mark Golding, in a statement, said he was happy to host the group of tertiary students at his West Kings House Road offices last night as he joined in celebrating their safe return from conflict-torn Ukraine.

“A warm ‘Welcome Home’ to the Ukraine students! Last night, I had the pleasure of hosting some of our Jamaican students that made it out of Ukraine,” Golding wrote on his verified Facebook page on Saturday.

Festivities aside, Golding further explained that he is working in earnest to find a solution to the current state of educational limbo being experienced by the students. 

Earlier this week, the University of the West Indies (The UWI) had expressed a willingness to accommodate the students where applicable, however, the institution maintained that tuition fees must be covered by the students.

Golding, who said he would be sharing The UWI’s response to a letter penned on the students’ behalf, added he is still hopeful through the joint efforts of himself and Prime Minister Andrew Holness, that a “workable solution” is possible for the students.

“While we were able to celebrate their safe return, they are still very uncertain as to how they will continue their education, and need our assistance to get back on track. I will be sharing the letter I sent to UWI on their behalf, and the response received, with Prime Minister [Andrew Holness] to seek his intervention. Hopefully, we can collaborate in finding a workable solution for them. I will also be seeing if other options can be explored,” Golding disclosed.

The Opposition Leader also shared a video of himself dancing with the Jamaican students to a political dub remix of South African gospel hit Jerusalema.’

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