Dominica's CBI Programme brings the nation closer to Climate Resilience

Citizenship by Investment Programme of Dominica is helping the island achieve its goal of becoming the "World's First Climate Resilient Nation by 2030". Using the CBI funding, the Government continues to make investments in homes, health centres, hurricane shelters and other infrastructures.

All the new infrastructure is being built considering the fact that the island and the region is most prone to natural disasters. The new buildings are strong enough to withstand a category 5 Hurricane.

Dominica, under the leadership of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has undertaken the admirable and difficult task of becoming the world’s first Climate Resilient nation.

One must keep in mind that Dominica is one among many nations, which have been bearing the brunt of climate change related effects on weather patterns and systems, due to its size and location. Hence, one could say that the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels and the subsequent damage sustained by the planet has affected nations like Dominica the most.

Dominica now finds itself in a position where it has to deal with a problem it has very little hand in creating, yet it must take on the task to secure the future of its people nonetheless.

CBI Programme’s role in Climate Resilience

As is the case with most major undertakings, the shift to climate resilience for Dominica needs significant resources to be successful. After all the nation is looking to overhaul its infrastructure and attain a standard that no other nation in the world has managed to till date.

Thus, Dominica is looking to its primary source of capital, the nation’s CBI Programme, which is counted among one of the best such options for investors the world over.

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In recent times, Dominica has experienced significant damage and losses to its infrastructure due to extreme weather conditions and hurricane activity, which is a regular feature in the region.

[caption id="attachment_66394" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Dominica (Photo Credits: The Guardian)[/caption]

Due to Hurricane Maria in 2017 and Tropical Storm Erika, the nation suffered unimaginable levels of damage leading to the collapse of the most basic economic activities. Coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this led to a collapse of the economic structures holding the nation upright.

To counter this, the Government of Dominica has been taking steps to ensure that the nation’s citizens are secure and have the comfort of a home that is immune to climate related catastrophes.

This task was also undertaken with the aim of providing climate resilient housing to the thousands of citizens who lost their homes due to climate related catastrophes in the recent past.

[caption id="attachment_65611" align="aligncenter" width="577"] Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit handing over keys to recipients of new homes in December 2023[/caption]

These activities have been funded by the proceedings from the nation’s CBI Programme which is enabling the government to undertake these essential steps for the benefit of its citizens.

In fact, Dominica has undertaken reforms to the nation’s CBI Programme, following a round table conference which included four other Caribbean nations recognized for their Citizenship by Investment programmes and the United States on the 25^th of February 2025.

This prompted the government of Dominica to become the first nation among those that offer Citizenship by Investment to apply mandatory interviews as an integral part of the vetting process for new applicants.

Dominica’s pledge to become fully Climate Resilient

While many large and powerful nations around the world are churning out rhetoric regarding the ills of climate change and the need to act against it, Dominica has become the first to commit to becoming climate resilient, setting an example for the world to follow.

[caption id="attachment_42732" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Dominica working towards becoming world’s first climate-resilient nation by 2030[/caption]

This commitment highlights the seriousness with which the nation is approaching the task and the fact that for Dominica, climate resilience and the fight against climate change is not just rhetoric but a reality.

Dominica’s Resilient Infrastructure Drive To this end, Dominica is looking to build 5000 homes for those who lost their properties due to Hurricane Maria and other such weather systems in recent years.

This is a significant step for the nation as these houses are being provided free of cost, something that is not the norm in the rest of the world. Hence, as the first nation in the world to provide free housing to victims of a natural disaster, Dominica has already achieved an important and unique bench mark.

The infrastructure drive is not limited simply to residential housing though, as to be completely climate resilient, the nation has to under take a complete overhaul of its approach to construction projects which are to come, while also effectively replacing preexisting structures along the way.

A significant part of the new approach taken by Dominica in terms of resilient infrastructure includes the Marigot Hospital, which became the first to offer CT Scan facilities to patients while also providing state of the art medical facilities to citizens, the likes of which were not seen in the nation before.

The 40,000 sq-ft, two story structure has the ability to accommodate 75 beds and is expected to bring that number up as the time passes. The hospital also boasts of being climate resilient, in accordance with the requirements placed by the government on all significant projects.

[caption id="attachment_40329" align="aligncenter" width="658"] Climate Resilient Housing Units Across Dominica[/caption]

This means that in situations where there is a weather-related emergency, the hospital has the ability to provide medical services to those affected without interruptions. The hospital is also more capable of handling the demands of medical emergencies unrelated to weather conditions when compared to what was available before it.

To supplement the hospital, the government has also built 12 Healthcare Centers, which are interspersed in the entirety of the region to ensure that emergency treatment can be provided to those who are not in close proximity to the Marigot Hospital.

[caption id="attachment_35692" align="aligncenter" width="674"] Climate Resilient Vieille Case Health Centre (Mar. 5, 2021)[/caption]

Since the Healthcare Centers and the Marigot Hospital undertake the task of public healthcare as a collaborative effort, they now have the ability to coordinate amongst themselves to disseminate information, medical support, vaccines and essential medicines in a more efficient manner and at a rate that belies the medical apparatus of the small island nation.

Other significant projects funded by the CBI Programme

Apart from the Marigot Hospital, climate resilient housing and multiple healthcare centers that have been provided to the public, the CBI Programme is also responsible for funding the Dominica Cable Car Project, the International Airport and multiple roads and bridges which are being upgraded to sustain the weight of heavy vehicles, adding to their durability and longevity.

This is a slight window into the reality that Dominica has used its Citizenship by Investment Programme to better the lives of its citizens in ways that most nations fail to follow through with. In fact, it would not be an understatement to say that the Citizenship by Investment Programme of Dominica has been the primary force behind citizen centric policies which the nation is now reaping the benefits of.

Recent Developments in Infrastructure

Dominica has been benefitting from its infrastructure drive at such a fast pace that there are now multiple projects which are providing the nation with facilities that were not available before, while new projects look to bring other benefits to citizens in the near future.

One example of this was the government’s decision to hand over 73 houses to families in need on Christmas, adding to the list of houses which have already been handed over to families, thus giving them the joy of spending Christmas in their own homes with their loved ones.

The Government of Dominica is working steadily towards its target of 5000 homes for our people as part of the housing revolution. On Wednesday, we handed over keys to 73 new homeowners under the Housing Recovery Project. pic.twitter.com/VHEIgmdS3m

— Roosevelt Skerrit (@SkerritR) December 16, 2023

Beyond that, Dominica is also taking steps to use the nation’s potential in terms of geothermal power generation by investing in a geothermal powerplant that will operate in the Roseau Valley. This plant has been earmarked for its ability to generate 10 MW of power.

When operational, the plant will allow the nation to move ahead by leaps and bounds towards its goal of climate resilience and sustainability by securing the nations power generation needs. The Dominica Geothermal Development Company is pushing the project ahead with the support of the government.

Eco-Tourism and Conservation

Even though Dominica is looking at infrastructure projects as the most important factor on the road to climate resilience, the government has not lost sight of the principles behind its approach. Thus, Dominica has kept a close eye on the environment and how the nation can affect a positive change to its domain and surrounding region.

The nation’s proposed Sperm Whale Reserve stands at the pinnacle of this approach and will be the first of its kind in the world. Conservationists and the government came together to make this project a reality, realizing that the Sperm Whale population of the region plays a significant role in carbon capturing.

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This is down to the unique process which begins when sperm whales defecate at the surface of the ocean, which leads to the formation of plankton blooms. These plankton blooms capture large amounts of carbon-dioxide, before sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

[caption id="attachment_3864" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Sperm Whales in Dominica Photo Credits ©Amila Tennakoon[/caption]

To facilitate this process, while also providing a safe and secure environment of the whales that frequent the nation’s waters, the government of Dominica has decided to reserve 300 sq miles of open water towards the west of the nation.

Beyond this, Dominica is also expanding its already impressive footprint in terms of eco-tourism by promoting eco resorts and hotels that provide a soothing experience to tourists with conservation and the correct use of the island’s beautiful natural features and resources in mind.