Independence Message from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Fellow Dominicans, here and abroad.
We celebrate 43 years as an independent nation in the shadow of a seemingly unending global pandemic. However, we have proven before we are a resolute people, able to withstand and triumph over the social and economic consequences of severe shocks to our lives and livelihoods. I extend condolences and stand in solidarity with our citizens who have lost loved ones to the COVID-19 virus.
This year’s Independence celebrations should serve as a reminder that despite our grief over the passing of loved ones and our preoccupation about an uncertain future, we are imbued with the strength and courage that define the indomitable Dominican spirit. We are able to draw inspiration from the determined work of our health workers and others on the frontline of this pandemic, from the individual efforts of our fellow citizens to protect their health and that of the weak and vulnerable among us, and from the promise of a Dynamic Dominica that creates an opportunity for all citizens to thrive.
In these trying times, I urge you to reflect on our ability, as a nation, to bounce back from the ravages of natural disasters and a raging pandemic, which have threatened to derail our development efforts. We have redirected significant resources to the management of the pandemic but are able to continue improvements in infrastructure, health, education and housing, and to maintain the social safety net programmes, which offer stability and a sense of worth to our youth and elderly. Our children, in particular, are benefiting from flexible and innovative approaches to learning during a health crisis that prohibits conventional classroom learning, a sure sign of our ability, as a people, to adapt and prosper despite the odds.
Our Independence theme, ‘United in Purpose, Our Health, Our Heritage, Our Future,’ calls for solidarity among citizens and meaningful engagement to advance nation-building. Our success as a nation also depends on our willingness to promote and celebrate a shared cultural heritage and preserve it for future generations.
This year, our celebrations may be muted but the vibrancy of our culture is not dimmed. Let us, individually and with family, honour our rich heritage; the song, dance, cuisine and fashion which make us uniquely Dominican. Independence provides us with the opportunity to cast aside differences in favour of national unity, equality and solidarity, as together we pave the way towards a bright future for all segments of our society.
At this pivotal stage in our development, we celebrate our gains and look with hope to all that is still to be achieved. I remain committed to the creation of a prosperous Dominica built on progressive policies and programmes that prioritize the wellbeing and success of every Dominican citizen.
On behalf of my family, I wish every Dominican a happy 43rd Anniversary of Independence.
May God Bless Dominica.