(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  President of Dominica, H.E. Dr. Nicholas Liverpool, presented to CARICOM Secretary-General, H.E. Edwin W. Carrington today, the nation’s highest award, the Dominica Award of Honour to the Caribbean Community; one of only two awarded this year as the Commonwealth of Dominica observe the 28th Anniversary of its independence.

The other awardee was Mr. Franklyn Baron, a Chief Minister in Pre-Independent Dominica and later distinguished Diplomat and Statesman.

Under the theme “Strengthening the Family for Nation Building”, the traditional Parade of Uniformed Groups was the colourful, ceremonial backdrop for the conferment of the Award; the first by a Member State to the Caribbean Community.

Senior Community officials at the ceremony included CARICOM Chairman, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, and Assistant Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit delivered the main address at the ceremony in which he highlighted a comprehensive range of achievement and development plans, and acknowledged the contributions of the international donor and development community.

The Prime Minister made special mention of the support by CARICOM and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to its Petroleum Fund which recently approved a grant of some US$M9.0 (US dollar, nine million) for various vital development projects. Prime Minister Skerrit referred to CARICOM Secretary General as “a most distinguished friend” and praised the work and contribution of the staff of the CARICOM Secretariat.

The receipt of the Dominica Award of Honour brings to an end a hectic 5-day mission by the Secretary-General to three Member States; Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.