World Bank Approves US$25 Million Credit for Dominica’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Media Release Courtesy The World Bank

WASHINGTON — The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved yesterday the US$25 million First COVID-19 Response and Recovery Development Policy Credit. This is Dominica’s first World Bank budget support operation, and it is the first in a series of two quick-disbursing credits.

The operation aims to support Dominica’s COVID-19 response to save lives, livelihoods, and jobs, while laying the foundation for longer-term economic recovery. It is aligned with the country’s National Resilience Development Strategy and COVID-19 response strategy.

“The pandemic has once again highlighted the importance of increasing our country’s resilience. The Government of Dominica is focused on first saving lives, protecting livelihoods, and preserving jobs, and next on strengthening fiscal policies, public financial management and debt transparency for a strong and resilient recovery,” said Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica. “The government is fully committed to the reforms under this operation, which is timely and will help Dominica to build back better in a sustainable way.” 

“The COVID-19 pandemic struck at a time when Dominica’s economy was still recovering from past natural disasters,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “The World Bank was proud to be the first among Dominica’s partners to assist in the island’s recovery after the devastating 2017 hurricane. Today, we are pleased to provide the first-ever World Bank development policy financing to support the country’s efforts to recover from the extraordinary socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

This Development Policy Credit includes measures to support the eventual reopening of the tourism sector while protecting public health, including the adoption of standardized COVID-19 testing protocols, and the approval of health protocols for the tourism and hospitality industry. Initiatives to protect jobs include tax reforms that encourage companies to commit to retaining their employees. The operation also includes policy reforms to strengthen the country’s recovery by enhancing fiscal policies, public financial management, and debt transparency for a resilient recovery. 

The financing, which is from the International Development Association (IDA), is interest-free with a maturity of 40 years, including a grace period of 10 years.  

 

World Bank Group COVID-19 Response:

The World Bank Groupone of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response. We are increasing disease surveillance, improving public health interventions, and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. Over the next 15 months, we will be deploying up to US$160 billion in financial support to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery, including $50 billion of new IDA resources in grants or highly concessional terms. 

Hannah McDonald-Moniz

External Affairs Officer, The World Bank

Charmaine Wright

External Affairs Consultant, The World Bank

OECS Communications Unit

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Back to www.oecs.int

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an International Organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance among independent and non-independent countries in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other while promoting unity and solidarity among its Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS today, currently has eleven members, spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

Contact

Morne Fortune Castries Saint Lucia

+1758-455-6377

media@oecs.int

www.oecs.int