CBI Helps Dominica Pave its Way to Resilience

Many media outlets have come to recognise the initiative and strength Dominica showcased in tackling climate change head-on. Recently, the Caribbean island was featured in the National Geographic magazine, a world-leader that specialises in content about science, geography and world culture. The feature detailed the resilience of the small tropical Commonwealth nation in the way that it dealt with previous hardships and how it plans to continue to move forward.

The author of the article, Sarah Gibbens, praised Dominica’s strategies that have equipped the island to become the world’s first climate-resilient country. She also alluded to the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, which offers second citizenship to thoroughly vetted foreigners who significantly invest in local businesses and real estate projects. The Programme has been responsible for aiding the nation’s long-and short-term recovery process after major natural disasters caused environmental and economic disruptions in 2015 and 2017.

Gibbens’ piece highlighted the strides made by Dominica’s comeback from Category 5 Hurricane Maria, which were largely funded by the CBI Programme. After disaster hit, many Dominicans lost their homes and the island’s infrastructure was put at risk. However, the country’s CBI Programme quickly allowed the channelling of funds to recovery efforts and continued to leave a major impact on the island’s journey to resilience. The repairing of roads, 19 bridges, 15 schools and the supporting the rehabilitation of over 6,000 homes has put Dominica on its way to take on the concerns of climate change.

The CBI Programme is an increasingly important part of Dominica’s continuous growth. The country is striving to construct not only hurricane-proof buildings but also a diverse economy. This includes a tourism sector that attracts more high-end investors and an agricultural system that grows a variety of fruits and vegetables to decrease the country’s reliance on imports.

A ban in plastic, an encouragement to compost and the development of a new geothermal plant are all ways Dominica is thinking ahead in order to sustain its current body and the generations to come.

The CBI Programme has stood by the people of Dominica for years and international media like the National Geographic are a few well-known organizations acknowledging the island’s resilience and fight to combat climate change.