Key Points in President Charles Savarin’s 2019 Presidential Address to Parliament

President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, His Excellency Charles A. Savarin, addressed the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament on July 30 on various topical issues affecting the country. Some key points of his address which is titled “Pursuing Resilience and Inclusive Growth and Development in Dominica Post Maria” are highlighted here:

President Savarin thanked God for preserving the country since Hurricane Maria struck with a catastrophic impact two years ago; saying both Hurricanes Erika and Maria led to significant loss in Dominica’s GDP.  

When taken in conjunction with the underlying phenomenon of Climate Change, these climate-induced natural disasters have altered the awareness and behaviour, the very psyche of Dominicans, in fundamental ways.

President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, His Excellency Charles A. Savarin

He said the constant vulnerability of the Nature Island country to natural disasters cause considerable loss of lives and destruction of critical infrastructure for long periods of time. These events make the country to lose out on all critical gains in areas of national prosperity, wealth creation, general health and welfare – forcing the government into a “continuous replacement mode” where everything from roads, bridges, river defenses, schools, hospitals, public utilities, housing estates, business organizations, to agricultural production and even forestry must be replaced for life to continue as before.

“But this traumatic experience has not daunted the Dominican spirit,” the president said. “Instead it has strengthened the culture of struggle and resistance embedded in the psyche of the Dominican people, who have had to struggle over time, not just with the elements but with the challenges posed by the very topography.”

President Savarin credited the Skerrit-led government with reaching out to the United States five days after Maria with the vision to rebuild Dominic into a better and stronger country that should be the first climate-resilient nation in the world.

This vision galvanized the government to pursue strategic steps which included:

• Operationalization of the Climate Resilient Execution Agency of Dominica (CREAD)
• Using CBI funds and donations from other countries to build or rebuild damaged houses
• Rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and tourist centers, etc.
• Total relocation of Petite Savanne and Dubique communities among others to new areas
• Massive growth in the tourism sectors to develop hotels, natural attractions, and parks, etc.

President Savarin highlighted the government’s resolve for sustainable development under the United Nations agenda, and economic and inclusive growths among others. He also spoke on the coming general elections and due electoral processes, saying everyone must unite to make Dominica great again in the Caribbean leage of nations.

We seek the good Lord’s guidance in strengthening our resolve as a people to build a prosperous Dominica, and to do so in a manner which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, His Excellency Charles A. Savarin

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