BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The deputy secretary general for Economic and Global Issues of the European Union’s External Action Service, Helena König, will arrive in Dominica on Thursday as part of a visit to four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.
She is due to visit Barbados following her visit to Roseau, where she will officially hand over climate-resilient houses that were built as part of the country’s reconstruction following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The homes are located in the vulnerable Kalinago territory, northeast of here, where descendants of the country’s indigenous people, the Caribs, still reside.
During her brief visit to Dominica, the EU official will meet with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit for discussions “on issues of common interest.”
An EU statement said that the reconstruction effort was part of a Euro 19.6 million (One Euro = 1.29 cents) grant funding from the European Union to assist the government in rebuilding the country as the first Climate Resilient nation in the world.
This included the construction of 50 houses and two climate-resilient emergency shelters, repairing at least 1,000 structures, and rehabilitating and upgrading public buildings. The two shelters can house more than 300 persons during an emergency.
The EU action also facilitated the implementation of the National Resilience Development Strategy and mainstreaming the building of better standards and resilience across the country.
“I am pleased to be on the natural island of Dominica to witness the European Union’s contribution to the country’s outstanding recovery effort in the aftermath of the widespread destruction by Hurricane Maria.
“I am well aware of the risks Caribbean countries face during every hurricane season – just recently, we were reminded of this again with Tropical Storm Philippe,” König said.
This is her second visit to the region this year and is a follow-up to the Summit between the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the EU held in Brussels in July.
The visit also takes place ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai at the end of November.
The Deputy Secretary General visited Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago earlier this week. On leaving Dominica, she will continue her travels to Barbados.
and then  countries.){kind=link}