The Commonwealth of Dominica will bestow its highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour, upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month, the Dominica government said.

The award is in recognition of PM Modi’s contributions to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic and his dedication to strengthening the partnership between the two countries.

In a statement, the office of the Dominican Prime Minister said President of the Commonwealth of Dominica Sylvanie Burton will confer the award during the upcoming India-CARICOM Summit scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 19 to 21.

“In February 2021, Prime Minister Modi supplied Dominica with 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine - a generous gift which enabled Dominica to extend support to its Caribbean neighbours,” it stated.

The award also recognises India’s support for Dominica in healthcare, education and information technology under PM Modi’s leadership as well as his role in promoting climate resilience-building initiatives and sustainable development on a global level, the statement read.

The statement quoted PM Roosevelt Skerrit as saying that the award is 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.

In accepting the offer of the award, PM 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 in addressing these issues, the statement underlined.    

President Burton and Prime Minister Skerrit will attend the India-CARICOM Summit, a forum to discuss shared priorities.