New Delhi: The Commonwealth of Dominica will confer its highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his contributions to the mountainous Caribbean island nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dominican President Sylvanie Burton will confer the award to PM Modi during the upcoming India-CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Summit to be held in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 19 to 21.
A statement from Dominica’s Prime Minister’s Office read, “The Commonwealth of Dominica will bestow its highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour, upon His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, in recognition of his contributions to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic and his dedication to strengthening the partnership between India and Dominica.”
The official statement mentioned how PM Modi supplied Dominica with 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in February 2021. The North American island nation also lauded PM Modi’s dedication to strengthening partnership between India and Dominica.
“The award also recognises India’s support for Dominica in healthcare, education and information technology under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, as well as his role in promoting climate resilience-building initiatives and sustainable development on a global level,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Dominican Prime Minister Skerrit said the award was an expression of Dominica’s gratitude for Prime Minister Modi’s solidarity with Dominica and the wider region.
“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. We look forward to building on this partnership and advancing our shared vision of progress and resilience, he said.
While accepting the offer of the award, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of collaboration in tackling global challenges such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts, and affirmed India’s commitment to working alongside Dominica and the Caribbean region in addressing these issues.