OECS stand united with India in hour of need: Roosevelt Skerrit

India is currently facing the biggest crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The country recorded a historic high in cases, with over 360,000 cases reported in a single day. The second most populous country is also experiencing a shortage of oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, ICU's and even ventilators. People are breathless and looking to be saved. A shortage of COVID-19 vaccines is also expected to be experienced in the coming days. Prime Minister of Dominica Dr Roosevelt Skerrit has sent a message to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. He stated that as India stood by Dominica's side, now the island country is also there to help as the country faces an unprecedented health crisis.

"As Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, I wish to affirm that we stand united with India in her hour of need." wrote PM Skerrit in his message to Indian PM Narendra Modi.

PM Roosevelt Skerrit stated that as a country stood alongside our vulnerable nation at our time of need.

"Not only with the Commonwealth of Dominica but also with our neighbours right here in the Caribbean in the selfless donation of Astra Zeneca vaccines. The leader of the great country of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recognised the plight of his Commonwealth brothers and acted swiftly in making the vaccines available," stated PM Skerrit. With a huge population and a significant strain on its medical system, it is a country in its darkest hours. As we all know, this pandemic has swept through many western countries which have suffered similar loss of lives. "Let us all keep the people and government of India in our prayers as they continue to grapple with the Covid 19 pandemic," stated PM Skerrit. Before getting stuck into the marsh of the virus, India helped many developing nations with free COVID-19 vaccines. Dominica was the first country in the Caribbean to receive 70,000 doses of the Oxford Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine manufactured in Serum Institute of India. Following Dominica, several other countries, including St Lucia, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, are some other nations that received the generous gift of life-saving vaccines from India.