World Bank Press Release – Dominica will strengthen its response to the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic using US$5.2 million from the World Bank. The funds will be used to provide income support to people affected by the crisis who meet set criteria.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic is causing economic and social challenges for Dominica, particularly due to necessary mitigation measures and the decline in the tourism industry. The World Bank will support the government’s social assistance measures to provide relief for Dominicans and contribute to economic recovery,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.  

Funds will be distributed under the Government of Dominica’s Livelihood Support and Social Protection Programme. Grants will be provided to over 7,000 Dominicans, targeting people who have lost income because of the pandemic as well as the poor and elderly.

The program will provide grants to affected self-employed business owners and other people who have lost jobs or have had their pay reduced. It will also support citizens over 70 years of age who do not already have a pension.

The livelihood and income support grants will be provided monthly to eligible beneficiaries for a maximum of three months. 

Eligibility criteria and application process are published by the Government of Dominica. 

These funds were accessed under the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Housing Recovery Project. CERCs allow funds to be reallocated from existing projects to address emergency response needs.  

World Bank Group Response to COVID-19 (coronavirus):

The World Bank Group, one 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 supporting public health interventions, working to ensure the flow of critical supplies and equipment, and helping the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. We will be deploying up to $160 billion in financial support over 15 months to help more than 100 countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses, and bolster economic recovery.  This includes $50 billion of new IDA resources through grants and highly concessional loans. 

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Tokyo, Japan – Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister in history, announces his resignation, citing worsening health condition.

“Even though there is one year to go in my tenure and there are challenges to be met, I have decided to stand down as prime minister.”

The announcement comes days after he made at least two hospital visits in a week. Abe suffers from ulcerative colitis, a non-curable inflammatory bowel disease.

Abe apologised to the people of Japan for being unable to fulfil his duties during the coronavirus pandemic.

Abe’s political career

Abe became Japan’s youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52 but his term ended just a year later because of his health. He returned to power in December 2012 and won six straight national elections thereafter.

After Abe’s re-election in 2012, he launched a grand experiment popularly known as “Abenomics,” to revive the country’s economy and boost consumer and investor confidence.

Abe has been a firm conservative politician and is known for his nationalist policies, particular his leanings towards revisionist history.

One of Abe’s major domestic achievements was securing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a success that was ultimately undone by the coronavirus, which forced the competition to be postponed to 2021.

CNN’s Will Ripley reflects on Shinzo Abe’s political career as the prime minister in a report.

Japan’s next prime minister

Abe said he will remain in office until a successor is chosen.

The Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Abe, will convene next Tuesday to hold an election for a replacement as party leader, Kyodo news agency reports.

After which, a parliamentary vote will follow to elect a new prime minister.

Potential successors have already emerged, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, and LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida, who is rumoured to be Mr Abe’s choice.

None are expected to deviate significantly from the government’s current policies.

The next elected prime minister would hold the post until the end of Mr Abe’s term in September 2021.

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