New Delhi: The Commonwealth of Dominica will award its highest national honor, the Dominica Award of Honour, to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his exceptional contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic and his efforts to strengthen ties between India and Dominica.
The prestigious award will be presented to Prime Minister Modi at the upcoming India-CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 19 to 21. The summit will focus on advancing cooperation between India and CARICOM member states, with a particular emphasis on shared priorities.
Both the President of Dominica, Sylvanie Burton, and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit will attend the summit. President Burton will formally confer the Dominica Award of Honour on Prime Minister Modi during the event.
The award recognizes Prime Minister Modi’s significant support to Dominica during the Covid-19 crisis, particularly his donation of 70,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses to the island in February 2021. This gesture enabled Dominica to not only vaccinate its own population but also extend assistance to neighboring Caribbean nations in need of vaccines.
In addition to this act of solidarity, the award also acknowledges India’s broader contributions under Modi’s leadership, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, information technology, and climate resilience. Modi’s efforts to promote sustainable development and foster global cooperation are key aspects of the recognition.
A statement from the Government of Dominica said, “Prime Minister Modi has been a steadfast partner to Dominica, especially during our time of need amid the global health crisis. It is a great honor to present him with Dominica’s highest award as a token of our appreciation and as a reflection of the strong bond between our nations. We are excited to continue this partnership and work together towards a shared vision of progress and resilience.”
In his response to the recognition, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of international collaboration in addressing global challenges such as climate change and geopolitical tensions. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to working alongside Dominica and the Caribbean community in tackling these critical issues.
