The Commonwealth of Dominica will bestow its highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour, upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations. The Dominica government announced that the award will be presented during the India-CARICOM Summit, scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana, from November 19 to 21.

President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Sylvanie Burton, will officially confer the award. In a statement, the office of the Dominican Prime Minister highlighted Modi’s pivotal role in supporting Dominica and the Caribbean region during the pandemic. “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,” the statement noted.

Beyond pandemic relief, the award acknowledges India’s assistance under Modi’s leadership in the fields of healthcare, education, and information technology. It also honors his global advocacy for climate resilience and sustainable development. The statement emphasized Modi’s impact on promoting international cooperation to combat pressing global challenges.

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Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed Dominica’s gratitude, saying, “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.”

PM Modi, in accepting the award, highlighted the importance of collaboration to address global challenges, such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts. He reaffirmed India’s dedication to working closely with Dominica and the Caribbean to foster shared progress.

Both President Burton and Prime Minister Skerrit will participate in the India-CARICOM Summit, where leaders will discuss mutual priorities and explore new avenues for collaboration between India and the CARICOM member states.