Dominica: India gives $250,000 in funding for five community development initiatives
Dominica: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Dominica and India to execute five Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) that would enhance community development in the Caribbean country. As part of its development partnership program, the Indian government would provide USD 250,000 to various regional projects.
Pradeep Rajpurohit, India’s High Commissioner to Dominica, and Vince Henderson, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy, met in Roseau, the capital.
The projects include restoring parts of a farm access road in Carholme, restoring St. Elmo’s Road in St. Elmo’s Estate, Upper Giraudel, and restoring 235 meters of a farm access and feeder road in Macaton, Grand Bay. The projects also include the building of a pedestrian crossing at Fond St. Jean and the restoration of the Grand Bay Basketball Court.
The High Commission of India in Trinidad and Tobago, which is also accredited to Dominica, issued a statement saying, “India remains steadfast in its endeavor to extend developmental assistance to the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica and extends best wishes to them on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the country’s independence.”
Since diplomatic relations were established in 1981, India and Dominica have historically had friendly bilateral relations.
In Dominica, a number of initiatives were carried out under development cooperation. India-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Projects: In 2018, the India-UNDP Fund awarded $1 million for the “Resilient Rehabilitation of Salisbury Educational Facility in Dominica Post-Hurricane Maria” project, which aimed to restore the two buildings at the Salisbury Educational Facility that had been severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The project was finished in March 2020.
Beginning in February 2021 and ending in January 2024, the $1 million project for “Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience in the Kalinago Community” was funded by the India-UNDP Fund. Launched on December 19, 2024, the second phase of the Community Resilience initiative in the Kalinago Territory is another $1 million initiative that is still running strong.