Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has said he is honored to receive Dominica’s top award and has dedicated it to the people of his country.
On Wednesday, President of Dominica, Sylvanie Burton conferred on Modi the “Dominica Award of Honor, which is the country’s highest award, at a ceremony in Guyana for his leadership and contributions to safeguarding lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the ceremony, Modi took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to express his appreciation.
“Honored to be conferred with the highest national award by Dominica. I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India,” he wrote.
“Gratitude to President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica for conferring the ‘Dominica Award of Honor’ upon me. This honor is dedicated to my sisters and brothers of India. It is also indicative of the unbreakable bond between our
nations.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, India donated 70,000 AstroZeneca vaccines to Dominica as the island battled the disease.
Modi expressed satisfaction for assisting Dominica during that period.
“It is a matter of deep satisfaction that we were able to help the people of Dominica during a pandemic like COVID-19,” Modi also wrote on X. “It fills my heart with joy to see how our solidarity during COVID-19 strengthened bonds across borders and continents. We will keep working closely with Dominica in the times to come.”
When accepting the award, Modi thanked the people of Dominica and praised the island’s efforts in environmental preservation. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through potential collaborations. Highlighting the urgent need for global action against climate change, he commended Dominica as a model of resilience.
At the ceremony, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit said India’s donation of the vaccines during the pandemic became a lifeline for Dominica.
“This act transcended a donation,” he told Modi.
“It was a powerful reminder that true leadership knows no borders.”
He stated that the vaccines enabled Dominica to protect its citizens and to extend aid to neighbors in the Caribbean who were still awaiting relief.
“This singular act of solidarity echoed the essence of global partnership and south-south collaboration,” Skerrit said.
The ceremony was held at the Marriot Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana, where Modi is attending an India-CARICOM summit.
The event was attended by five CARICOM leaders, including Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali.
The Dominica Award of Honor was created in 1967 and is the highest honor presented by the President of Dominica on behalf of the state. It is awarded to people who have made significant contribution to the development of Dominica.
What Roosevelt does to the opposition supporters in Dominica, Mock does likewise to the minority Muslims in India.
This national award given to Modi by the the walking Satan (Roosevelt), is carefully calculated for some sort of political favour. Quid pro quo!
Lol, your bitterness will destroy you, look at the UWP and how they caused their self-destruction. What is it that has driven you to call someone a walking Statan, wow, I feel sorry for you, yes I do, is this what partisan politics has done to you.
Did you notice there was another Country that also took the occasion to present PM Modi with an award and that Country the populace is made up of Moslems and Hindus did you see or hear anything of what you suggesting, again that was just your silly imagination trying to get comfort from your resentment of a great conceived presentation fitted for such an occasion, you remember this https://www.inewsguyana.com/dominicas-opposition-leader-calls-for-pms-resignation/