BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS Dominica is slowly recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has informed that they would be an example of how a country could rebound from a major disaster.
Dominicans are currently picking up the pieces from the Category 5 storm, which has left 27 people dead and many others missing, and Skerrit believes that his country would be the example of how “an entire nation can become resilient”.
The outspoken Prime Minister has been championing the cause for developed countries to pay more attention to Climate Change since the hurricane had decimated his island nation.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday (Oct. 8) in Roseau in the presence of the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres and CARICOM’s Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Skerrit said: “We did not choose this opportunity, we did not wish it. Having had it thrust upon us, we have chosen actively and decisively to be that example to the world.
“We recognize that we cannot do that quicker, better and, more impactfully, in combination with the United Nations. I ask you to join us on our journey to become the world’s first climate resistant nation in the Climate Change era.
“I see an important role for the United Nations in guiding us with good analysis on how to achieve and monitor national climate resilience. We know we need food, energy and ICT security. We know we need to design, re-engineer, recite, rebuild whole communities and their schools, clinics and community facilities and shelters.”
These, the Prime Minister noted, must be done in a professional and well governed manner that would encourage the international development agencies to invest their funds.
“These issues are much about the politics of change as anything else. We value your insights on our tasks, but we caution that this is not an academic debate for us – it is real for us.”
Guterres said the visit is indeed one of solidarity “with your people and your government”, while underscoring the extent of the devastation on the ground in Dominica.
“…I was deeply impressed by two things: first by the dramatic level of devastation, of systematic devastation of your country. I have never seen anywhere else in the world a forest completely decimated without one single leaf in any tree.”
Travelling from Barbuda, the Secretary General noted that the devastation completely different, in that that island has the support of Antigua, but Dominica is the entire nation.
“On the other hand, I was impressed with the effective response that your government and your people, with the resilience of your communities, was able to put together.
“A response that allows for what I see today to be very different already from what we could see immediately after,” explained Guterres.
Meanwhile, Skerrit stressed that his country needs the United Nations now more than ever.
