Dominica thanks St. Kitts & Nevis for post-Maria recovery assistance

PM Skerrit (right at front) stands next to St. Kitts PM (center) during an OECS delegation visit to St. Kitts after Hurricane Maria

The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, has expressed his gratitude to the government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis for the substantial humanitarian contributions provided to his country in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Shortly after the hurricane pummeled Dominica on Sept. 18, 2017, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis responded to the needs of the neighbouring Caribbean island by pledging EC$1 million to assist in its recovery and rebuilding efforts. St. Kitts and Nevis also opened up the RLB International Airport for use as a staging platform for relief efforts into Dominica.

In addition to this, all four hospitals on St. Kitts and Nevis were made available for the provision of health services. Moreover, displaced students in Dominica who were registered for upcoming CXC exams were offered free enrollment in St. Kitts and Nevis schools so that they can continue their educational pursuits.

In a letter of appreciation to St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister Skerrit said, “Your dispatch of officers of the St. Kitts and Nevis Police Force for security duties and the contributions of materials and supplies by the private and public sectors of St. Kitts and Nevis have been invaluable contributions to our emergency response in the aftermath of the hurricane. Through you we also wish to thank the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for opening their homes to Dominican families seeking temporary relocation following the devastating effects of the hurricane.”

The Dominican Prime Minister further stated that St. Kitts and Nevis’ response to the needs of his people personifies the true nature of the Caribbean people: “Importantly, your personal expressions of concern at the situation in Dominica have served to reinforce our confidence that as small states, and as CARICOM member states, we confront our challenges together; and as problematic as they are, natural disasters as Hurricane Maria also serve to strengthen our affinity and hence the Caribbean family.”

The CARICOM head is of the view that Hurricane Maria and the other deadly storms that affected the region during the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season constitute opportunities for advocacy around climate change. He added, “We must all be prepared to remind our partners in the international community that climate change is real and that the credibility of the Paris Agreement hinges on their willingness to meet their obligations, including funding programmes for building resilience in all small island development states, but particularly those that have become victims of climate change.”

Hurricane Maria, the 13th named hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, caused billions of dollars worth of damage to Dominica’s infrastructure, which included extensive damage to roads and public buildings, such as schools, stores and churches. The category five (5) hurricane is also responsible for the loss of dozens of lives on the Caribbean island.

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9 Comments

  1. no face
    January 12, 2018

    The people of Dominica have not seen any of this assistance.

    • dee
      January 14, 2018

      I believe, one day soon, we are going to be informed of the total amount of monies donated for assisting Dominicans and the rebuilding of the country , post Maria .
      The total figure is being added up at present , with the amount spent so, far being calculated.
      Now, you folks who do not agree with me , just because it wasn’t done for Erica
      and with other funds for Dominica does not mean it will not be done now .
      Dow stick allu thumbs down at me , i have confidence OK, Maria is supposed to have changed a lot of MEN.Is true wee ;
      dey tell me, now any woman who want a man to keep their distance , just quickly blurting out ”’ my mother name is Maria ” man taking off wee .
      .

    • dee
      January 14, 2018

      No face
      i saw de face you made dere you know , prompting me to ask how much (figure), was actually paid to the Barbadian Company for supplying relief food to Dominica post Maria .
      So because i did ask why was Barbados,a country which actually imports 90%of its food , chosen to supply Dominica , paid for through an account opened by OUR PRIME MINISTER
      ( he said so himself) when in reality Martinique, Guadeloupe and even St. Lucia ( a bit further off ) could have been the ones supplying us with their home grown products, at a much lower cost and quicker too .
      Yes, you want me to ask whether the cost by the Barbadian firm will be paid out of our
      Government funds ?
      is me you want to get into trouble , not true ?
      I dow akxing dat kine of question .

  2. mine
    January 12, 2018

    Thank you so very much St.Kitts for the good deed.

  3. The Perfect Idiot
    January 12, 2018

    I guess St Kitts and Nevis should equally thank Dominica for diplomatic passports

    • Ras
      January 12, 2018

      The perfect name for someone who would take the time to post such an idiotic comment

  4. January 12, 2018

    Had no clue SKN did all that. Thank you friends!

  5. January 12, 2018

    Well done. Unity in our region is of utmost importance. It was good to witness the outpouring of love and support in the aftermath of Irma and Maria. Good bless our Caribbean!

  6. January 12, 2018

    Many thanks to the government and people of St. Kitts & Nevis for their hard work Post- Hurricane Maria. We appreciate you and all the other OECS and CARICOM states. No contribution was too little, all mattered.

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