Dominica: PM Roosevelt Skerrit pens down emotional post on fifth anniversary on Sept 18

Dominica: Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica – Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, reminded the horrifying day of September 18, 2017, when Category 5 Hurricane Maria devastated the country.

PM Skerrit penned down an emotional post and also praised the people of Dominica for dealing with natural calamity strongly. “Today, we honour the memory of our fellow citizens who perished during the passage of Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.

“Five years ago, Hurricane Maria crashed into Dominica, leaving considerable damage in its wake, a shattered economy and a people traumatized by the sheer ferocity of the storm and the death of loved ones. A category five hurricane, Maria devastated the country’s physical infrastructure and displaced hundreds of families. With estimated damage at $1.3 billion or 226 percent of GDP, the Government of Dominica took immediate action to rebuild and recover, declaring our intent to become the first climate-resilient country in the world,” he added.

Furthermore, he outlines that he is proud of the efforts thus far to mitigate risks, improve planning procedures and empower communities to prepare for and recover more quickly from extreme weather events. Through targeted interventions at the national and community levels, we have enhanced shelter capacity, introduced new construction and design standards, restored livelihoods in the areas of housing and agriculture and rebuilt key infrastructure.

“I am even prouder of the fighting spirit and national pride displayed by you, the Dominican people, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. As we all go through the remainder of the 2022 hurricane season, I urge you to remain vigilant, for disaster can strike when we least expect it. I also encourage you to remain steadfast in your love for country and your zeal for nation-building as we “toil with hearts and hands and voices” towards prosperity for all,” he said.

He concluded his message by praying to the Lord for his blessing on Dominica.