In a significant gesture of appreciation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Dominica’s highest national honor, the “Dominica Award of Honour,” during a ceremony at the India-CARICOM Summit on Wednesday. The award recognizes Modi’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his unwavering efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Dominica.
Modi Dedicates The Honor To India’s People
Upon receiving the prestigious award, Prime Minister Modi dedicated the recognition to the people of India. “I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India,” he stated in a social media post on platform X. Modi emphasized that the award also represents the rich culture, traditions, and values of India.
Acknowledging Women’s Empowerment And Global Cooperation
In his remarks, Modi praised the shared democratic values between India and Dominica. He highlighted the significant milestones achieved by both countries in empowering women. He noted that President Droupadi Murmu is India’s first President from a tribal community, while Dominica’s President, Sylvanie Burton, holds the distinction of being the first President from an indigenous community.
“India and Dominica not only share centuries-old historical and civilizational ties, but we also serve as role models for the world in terms of democratic governance and women’s empowerment,” Modi said.
Recognizing Contributions During The Pandemic
The award specifically acknowledges Modi’s efforts in supporting Dominica during the COVID-19 crisis. In February 2021, India supplied 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Dominica, a critical donation that helped the Caribbean nation extend its assistance to neighboring countries.
Additionally, the honor recognizes India’s broader contributions to Dominica in areas such as healthcare, education, information technology, and climate resilience.
A Commitment To Address Global Challenges
Prime Minister Modi also used the occasion to reaffirm India’s commitment to global cooperation. He highlighted the importance of collaboration in tackling pressing challenges such as climate change and geopolitical conflicts. Modi expressed his eagerness to continue working alongside Dominica and the Caribbean nations to address these issues.
“This award is a recognition of the solidarity between our nations,” he stated, emphasizing India’s readiness to support Dominica and the wider Caribbean region in their development and climate resilience efforts.
Prime Minister Modi’s Growing International Recognition
This prestigious award is the latest in a series of honors bestowed upon Prime Minister Modi. Guyana and Barbados are also set to confer their top awards on him during this trip, bringing his total international awards to 19.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hailed the honor, describing it as a recognition of Modi’s statesmanship and his efforts to promote India-Dominica relations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the award acknowledges India’s leadership in healthcare, education, and climate initiatives under Modi’s guidance.
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