World Bank deal boosts Dominica hurricane recovery

The government of Dominica has signed an agreement with the World Bank that will see the hurricane-hit Caribbean island receive US$65 million worth of assistance.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who is also Dominica’s minister for finance and housing, thanked the World Bank for all of the help it had given since Hurricane Maria struck in September 2017.

“We are extremely pleased with the demonstration of not only a commitment based on the bank’s mandate but the emotional connection which yourself and your staff have placed on this mission in Dominica,” he said.

“for this, this country and myself will always be eternally grateful.”

He added that the World Bank’s continued assistance to Dominica is not because of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Maria but instead due the island’s desire to be the first climate resilient nation in the world.

Skerrit called on all Dominicans to join the effort towards this end.

“The plan of our country to build the world’s first climate resilient nation has taken cognisance of the international community,” said the prime minister.

“People are buying into this vision, so it is left for us in Dominica to be united in purpose. We will all have different views of what should be done, when it should be done, how it should be done and who should do it, but we must not lose sight of the bigger picture.

“In this state of our rebuilding there should be no place whatsoever for parochial, partisan consideration.”

This assistance from the World Bank is part of a US$115 million package of loans and grants that will also see the advancement of Dominica’s geothermal project and infrastructural development.

World Bank Regional Director for the Caribbean and Latin America, Tahseen Sayed Khan said she was moved by Skerrit’s optimism and aspiration to make Dominica the world’s first climate resilient nation.