New Delhi: Prime Minister of Dominica on February 10 expressed happiness after receiving the coronavirus vaccine from India. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on Wednesday said that “we didn’t imagine that our prayers would be answered so swiftly.”
The government of India on Sunday delivered the two consignments of Covishield COVID-19 vaccines to the Caribbean countries of Barbados and Dominica under the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
The consignments of vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), were dispatched from Mumbai.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared a picture of a consignment reaching Dominica and described it as “a gesture of goodwill and an example of support.”
A gesture of goodwill, an example of support. Made in India vaccines arrive in Dominica. #VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/HeYYkjpDoR
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 10, 2021
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed heartfelt thanks to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for considering his request on merit and recognising the equality of its people.
Consolidating our Caribbean connect. Barbados receives Made in India vaccines. #VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/Fn0EZK1Zuv
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 10, 2021
PM Skerrit shared a video message in which he said that “I must confess that I didn’t imagine that prayers of my country would have been answered so swiftly. Be the leader of a small Carribean Island with a population of 72,000 people, I didn’t fancy my chances of getting such a swift and positive response to my request of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
“I would like to take this opportunity once again to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to PM Modi, his government and citizens of India,” he added in a video message.
Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative – the central government of India has delivered the ‘Made in India’ coronavirus vaccine to the countries like Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives.
_Vinayak.Barot