In a significant development for UK-Dominica relations, Preet Kaur Gill MP is chairing an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in Dominica, a Commonwealth country.
The APPG aims to highlight Dominica’s climate resilience initiatives, deepen business ties and improve awareness about the Small Island Developing States (SIDs).
Notably, the inaugural meeting of APPG was held on December 12. In that meeting, Dominica was presented as a crucial partner to the UK in the Caribbean.
Many dignitaries attended the meeting, including Daniel Kawczynski MP, Dawn Butler MP and Kate Osamor M, who served as a Vice-chair in the APPG meeting. Lord Randall of Uxbridge and Lisa Cameron MP were also present as members.
Moreover, Acting High Commissioner for Dominica Janet Charles also expressed her support for this initiative and highlighted the importance of the APPG for drawing attention to Small Island Developing States.
She said, “Small islands are often forgotten despite the disproportionate impact that they feel from climate change. So this initiative will be hugely beneficial and can assist Dominica to be more fiscally and economically resilient.”
Furthermore, she asserted, “I am grateful that Dominica got this opportunity, and we are looking forward to working with UK MPs, and Dominica has a lot to showcase.”
Preet Kaur Gill, who was Shadow Secretary for International Development, always wanted to work with APPG as she was eager to promote Small Island Developing States in the world.
She said, “The relations between the UK and Small Island Developing States are important for how we confront climate change and other global challenges.”
Further, she said, “As a Commonwealth state, our relations with Dominica matter, and through this APPG, we will work on our relations more, and I am very excited to get to work.”
Read More to Know about APPGs
APPGs are informal groups of Members of Parliament and the House of Lords from different Political Parties that meet to discuss, research, and gain support on certain issues.
Vice Chair Kawczynski is the Conservative MP for Shrewsbury & Atcham and brings experience chairing or vice chairing several relevant APPGs, including the St. Kitts and Nevis APPG and Brazil APPG.
Vice Chair Kate Osamor MP, who served as a Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, brings her International Affairs experience to the APPGs.
Dawn Butler MP, who previously worked as a Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities is a current Dominica officer for APPG. He brings his experience in APPGs as he was a part of many other APPG meetings that were held in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations.
The All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) attempted to draw from the Ministry’s previous experiences to enhance their own experiences.
After the opening ceremony of APPGs on December 12, it came into effect. Dominica is a small island, but it still has a great influence as a member of the Commonwealth and Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with strong global connections.
Dominica is not only a member of CARICOM but also a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); it shows the country’s engagement with other nations.
Through the APPG, Dominica hopes to draw more attention and support in order to enhance its partnership with the UK. The APPGs aim to focus on initiatives like climate change, renewable energy, economic diversification, and agricultural development. The island promises to become the world’s first climate-resilient nation.
APPG will focus on all Caribbean nations. APPG for St Kitts and Nevis was established in February 2023 and has already resulted in a parliamentary delegation visiting the island.
However, Dominica has demonstrated their ability to adapt and respond proactively to the challenges posed by climate change by constructing climate-resilient infrastructure and homes. As a result, these structures have successfully withstood natural disasters, setting an example for other nations to follow in adapting their national infrastructure to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Similarly, the Dominica geothermal power plant has gained the attention of the UK APPG meeting. Moreover, the members of APPG will continue to meet and organise meetings with each other in order to do more development for the nations and it will also enhance the UK-Dominica relations.