A team from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), visited Dominica during the week of September 7-11th, to offer further assistance with the recovery process after the damage caused by Tropical Storm Erika. The team also liaised with the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (GOCD) to further craft the Bank' post-disaster assistance. While there, representatives from CDB held discussions with the Prime Minister of Dominica, The Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, as well as with Rosamund Edwards, Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Industry and Planning. Daniel Best, Acting Division Chief - Economic Infrastructure Division at CDB, said: “Wider discussions were had with respect to the long-term recovery effort and in the immediate term we looked at ways in which we could support the capacity-building effort within the Ministry of Finance, to help it execute its ongoing work while responding to the needs in the country at this time." During their time in Dominica, the CDB team also reached out to residents who had been impacted by Tropical Storm Erika. On Thursday September 10, Bank representatives distributed approximately 130 relief packages to residents of Paradise Valley in Bath Estate, as well as residents of Petite Savanne who were relocated to the Dominica Grammar School. The items distributed were purchased with funds donated by staff members at CDB, which was matched by the Bank. Best said: “We were honoured to have touched lives on a personal and one to one level. Dominicans are our neighbours, fellow colleagues, family members and friends, so the staff of CDB, outside of our role as development bankers, were particularly moved to act in a way that could provide immediate assistance as they begin to make their first steps towards rebuilding their lives. The staff contributions were used to purchase items in country, which we then packaged and distributed." On August 27, CDB made an Emergency Relief Grant of USD 200,000 available to Dominica in accordance with the Bank' Disaster Management Strategy and Operational Guidelines. The grant is aimed at assisting the country in its response to the disaster, and was coordinated through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, based on damage and needs assessments and in close coordination with the development community.