President Sylvanie Burton will bestow the award during the India-CARICOM Summit, set to take place in Georgetown, Guyana…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive Dominica’s highest national award, the ‘Dominica Award of Honour,’ in recognition of his vital support to it during the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to strengthening India-Dominica relations.
According to a statement by the Government of Dominica, President Sylvanie Burton will bestow the award during the India-CARICOM Summit, set 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”, said the government of Dominica.
The award also recognises India’s support for Dominica in 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.
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed the nation’s gratitude, stating, “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.”
Accepting 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.
This honour will be conferred as part of PM Modi’s diplomatic tour, which will include visits to Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana.
PM Modi will participate in the Second CARICOM-India Summit in Georgetown, Guyana and hold meetings with leaders of CARICOM member countries to further enhance India’s long-standing friendship with the region.
India sends flood aid to Nigeria ahead of PM’s visit
India sent 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Nigeria on Thursday to assist the west African country in dealing with the impact of devastating floods that left hundreds of people dead.
In addition to this, India also announced another 60 tonnes of assistance to the African nation.
Taking to X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Committed to Humanitarian Assistance. India dispatched 15 tonnes of aid to Nigeria to provide support to those affected by the devastating floods in the country. A further assistance of 60 tonnes of aid will be sent in due course.”
“The aid comprises food, sleeping mats, blankets, water purification supplies and other relief items,” the MEA post added.
At least 321 people have been killed and over 740,000 others displaced in Nigeria so far this year due to the floods that ravaged most parts of the country.
In addition, some 2,854 people have been injured in the flooding, caused mainly by prolonged rainfall across the most populous African country, said Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of the southeastern state of Anambra, after a monthly National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“The country is facing a national emergency concerning flooding and the reports so far identify a major national disaster,” as the rains have led to widespread displacement, loss of lives, and destruction of homes and livelihoods, Soludo had said, citing briefings at the Economic Council meeting.
The senior official had also mentioned that 34 out of Nigeria’s 36 states have experienced flooding, and 217 out of the 774 local government areas in the country have been affected. The ravaging flood has displaced at least 740,743 people and destroyed or affected 281,000 houses and 258,000 cultivated farmlands.
Additionally, the UN agencies appealed for lifesaving support in Nigeria, where record inflation, climate shocks, and ongoing conflicts are projected to push the number of food-insecure people to 33 million in 2025.
ALSO READ: India Rallies Support for Flood-Hit Nigeria