Dominica is set to bestow its highest national honor, the Dominica Award of Honor, upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the country. The prestigious award will be presented during the upcoming India-CARICOM Summit, scheduled to take place from November 19 to 21, 2024, in Georgetown, Guyana.
Dominica’s President, Syvanie Burton, will preside over the ceremony. The award highlights Modi’s significant support to Dominica, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, India donated 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Dominica in February 2021, playing a critical role in the nation’s pandemic response.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed his gratitude, emphasizing that the award reflects Dominica’s deep appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s steadfast support during the difficult global health crisis.
“Prime Minister Modi has been a true partner to Dominica, particularly during our time of need amid a global health crisis. It is an honour to present him with Dominica’s highest national accolade as a symbol of our gratitude for his support and as a reflection of the strong ties between our countries,” Skerrit said.
“We look forward to building on this partnership and advancing our shared vision of progress and resilience.”
In accepting the award, Prime Minister Modi reiterated the importance of global cooperation in tackling critical challenges such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to collaborating with Dominica and other Caribbean nations to address these urgent issues.
The award also highlights India’s broader contributions to Dominica, including support in education, information technology, and efforts to enhance climate resilience and sustainable development. This recognition reflects the strengthening of bilateral ties between India and Dominica and underscores the broader collaboration between India and the Caribbean region
Both President Sylvanie Burton and PM Skerrit are expected to attend the India-CARICOM Summit. The summit is a key diplomatic event that brings together leaders from India and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to discuss and strengthen ties across various sectors, including trade, development, climate change, education, and healthcare. The summit serves as a platform for enhancing bilateral relations and fostering deeper cooperation between India and the CARICOM member states.
Scheduled for November 19 to 21, 2024, in Georgetown, Guyana, this summit will focus on addressing critical regional and global challenges, such as climate resilience, sustainable development, and expanding economic partnerships. The summit underscores India’s growing engagement with the Caribbean and its commitment to supporting the region’s development goals.
