MoS Margherita visits Dominica, pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Belize
Roseau, May 15
Union Minister of State of External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita continued his multi-nation visit to Central America and the Caribbean, holding engagements in Dominica and earlier in Belize as part of India's diplomatic outreach to the region.
In a post on X on Friday, Margherita said he had " arrived in the beautiful 'Nature's Island of the Caribbean'- Commonwealth of Dominica" and thanked Dominica's Foreign Minister Vince Henderson for the warm welcome at the airport.
He added that he was looking forward to "productive discussions with the leadership of Dominica."
Earlier during his visit to Belize, the minister paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the University of Belize campus in Belmopan and also visited the statue of George Cadle Price at Battlefield Park.
In a post on X, Margherita said, "The enduring legacy and values of Mahatma Gandhi, which resonate with the principles of the Father of the Nation of Belize, Rt. Hon. George Price will continue to guide future generations in India and Belize."
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Margherita's official visit to Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize and Dominica took place from May 8 to 15.
During the first leg of the tour in Costa Rica, Margherita represented India at the presidential inauguration ceremony of President Laura Fernandez Delgado in San Jose and held discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
In Honduras, the minister held meetings with senior government dignitaries, including the foreign minister, Mireya Aguero, to review bilateral cooperation across sectors.
In Belize, he met government leaders and visited sites linked to India-supported developmental initiatives.
In the final leg of the visit to Dominica, Margherita is expected to meet the country's leadership to discuss the full gamut of bilateral relations. He will also visit project sites being implemented through Indian grant assistance.
According to the MEA, this marks the first ministerial-level visit from India to Dominica since October 2018. The minister is also expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora and friends of India during the visit.
— ANI
Reader Comments
First ministerial visit since 2018 - that's quite a gap! Glad we're finally paying attention to these regions. The Indian diaspora in the Caribbean deserves more engagement too.
Pabitra Margherita ji doing great work! 🇮🇳 But I wonder, with all this travel, how much concrete outcomes come from such visits? Hope there are follow-ups on trade and development projects.
Beautiful to see Gandhi's legacy honored across the world! The connection between Gandhi and Belize's national hero George Price is truly inspiring. Soft power diplomacy at its best.
Honestly, we should be focusing more on our immediate neighbors like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka rather than flying across the world. But covering Central America is strategic too. Balance chahiye! 🤔
As someone who has friends in the Caribbean diaspora, I can tell you these visits matter a lot to them. Many feel forgotten by India. Good step forward! Now let's see some trade agreements and visa facilitation too.
Impressive to see India's diplomatic footprint expanding. The Caribbean is often overlooked by Asian powers. Smart move by MEA to build bridges. Hope this leads to more cultural exchanges and student scholarships.
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