- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to be conferred with the highest national award from the Government of Dominica, the ‘Dominica Award of Honour’ for acknowledgement of his crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic and deepening the bilateral ties between two countries.
Dominican President Sylvanie Burton will bestow the award to PM Modi at the upcoming India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana, scheduled to take place from November 19 to 21, 2024.
The award will also symbolize the sense of gratitude of the government and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica to PM Modi for his unwavering support in the areas including healthcare, education and information technology.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that the award is an expression of Dominica’s gratitude for Prime Minister Modi’s solidarity with Dominica and the Caribbean region as a whole. While announcing the award, PM Skerrit outlined that PM Modi has been a true partner to Dominica, especially during a time of need and a global health crisis and it will be an honour for his administration to present him with Dominica’s highest national accolade as a gesture of gratitude for his invaluable support.
“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,” said PM Skerrit.
In the times, when COVID-19 vaccines were rarely available, India assisted the Commonwealth of Dominica and several other Caribbean countries with the supply of the vaccines. In February 2021, with help of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dominica received 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The doses were facilitated through Gurdip Dev Bath – A Special Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis, who share roots in India. Reportedly, during the time pandemic, Gurdip Dev Bath facilitated the transportation of over one lakh AstraZeneca vaccines from India to the Caribbean region, providing major support to not only Dominica but also other nations including Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis and others.
Following this major assistance, Bath was also conferred with the prestigious title ‘The Honorary if the Republic’ by the Government of Barbados. President Sandra Mason, during an official ceremony on June 26, 2023, honoured Dev Bath with the highest state honour for his instrument role during the rough times.
Meanwhile, PM Modi, while accepting the offer of the award highlighted the fact that it is very important to collaborate in tacking global challenges such as geopolitical conflicts and climate change. With this, he also reiterated his commitment and dedication to work with the Dominica and the Caribbean region in addressing such issues. Just in October, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit concluded his four day visit to India, where he also met Pabitra Margherita -Minister of State for External Affairs at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
