Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred the “Dominica Award of Honour”, the highest national award of the Commonwealth of Dominica, in recognition of his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and his commitment to strengthening ties between India and Dominica. The award was presented by Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton during the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana on Wednesday.

Expressing his gratitude, PM Modi dedicated the award to the 140 crore people of India. “Honoured to be conferred with the highest national award by Dominica. I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India,” he said on social media platform X. He further attributed the honour to the culture, traditions, and collective efforts of the Indian people.

Prime Minister Modi thanked President Sylvanie Burton for personally presenting the award in Guyana and highlighted the shared values of democracy and empowerment between India and Dominica. He noted that President Burton is Dominica’s first President from the indigenous community, while India’s President Droupadi Murmu is the first Indian President elected from the tribal community.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hailed the recognition as a testament to PM Modi’s statesmanship and his contributions to Dominica’s development during the pandemic. In February 2021, India supplied 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Dominica, a gesture that also supported other Caribbean nations.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed the nation’s gratitude for PM Modi’s solidarity and support in healthcare, education, and climate resilience initiatives. “The award is an expression of Dominica’s gratitude for PM Modi’s solidarity with Dominica and the wider region,” PM Skerrit’s office said.