Dominica’s Prime Minister dies in office

ELEVEN months after undergoing heart surgery here in Trinidad at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Dominican Prime Minister Pierre Charles has died. The exact cause of death has not yet been ascertained and his sudden passing not only plunged the island of Dominica into mourning, but the entire Caricom region. (See Page 7 section B) Dominica has lost two Prime Ministers in just over three years. A successor to Charles was expected to be named yesterday afternoon. Charles, 49 died shorthly before 8 pm on Tuesday after he collapsed in his car on his way home from work. The Prime Minister’s office in Dominica said Charles was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of the Princess Margaret Hospital by his security.

The hospital’s medical director, Dr Irving Pascal, in a statement said on the PM’s arrival at the institution, “cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately initiated, and a team of medical specialists and nurses led by consultant anaesthetist continued intensive efforts to save him.” The PM was pronounced dead at 7.55 pm. He would have celebrated his 50th birthday on June 30. Dominica’s government press secretary Sean Douglas told Newsday yesterday that funeral arrangements have not been finalised since the government is awaiting the results of a post- mortem, which will be conducted today to determine the exact cause of death. All flags on the island were being flown at half mast and the mood of the population was said to be sombre as they were in shock over the death. Charles, a member of Dominica’s Labour Party, became Prime Minister following the death three years ago of then Prime Minister Rosie Douglas. Charles was a Roman Catholic and the father of three children. He was married to nurse Justina Charles and was the sixth of nine children, and son of  Grand Bay farmer Francis Charles and Theodora Francis of Bagatelle. 

News of Charles’ heart ailment first came to the fore on Valentine’s night last February at the launch of Caricom’s anniversary in Trinidad at the St Augustine Campus, UWI, where he was scheduled to deliver the feature address. He did not deliver that address because he complained of chest pains and had to be taken to the EWMSC where he underwent a series of tests. At that time, Charles was in Trinidad for the 14th Inter-Sessional Meeting of Caricom heads at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. On February 20 angioplasty surgery was performed on the PM at the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at EWMSC by Dr Clifford Thomas, a consultant interventional cardiologist assisted by Dr Vernon Francis. The operation was successful and Charles was discharged from the EWMSC on February 24. He returned to Dominica where he resumed his duties as PM three weeks later. Yesterday, as news of the death spread through the region, tributes and condolences poured in for the PM who was described as a cherished Dominican son, and a man who sacrificed a lot.

Prime Minister of TT Patrick Manning said yesterday that Dominican Prime Minister Pierre Charles was a very sincere leader of his country. He said he was devoted to the people of Dominica and his passing was a great loss. He said that as someone who himself has a heart that is not one hundred percent, he understands the stress that Mr Charles had been going through. He said that leaders frequently neglect their health when working in the interest of their people. Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Denzil Douglas said Caribbean leaders would miss Charles because he “was so much of a gentleman.” He said, “if there was anyone of us who can be described as not capable of even killing a fly, that would go to him. He was very quite, reserved, and a real gentleman and to see him pass away is really sad.”

Douglas added that Charles also put Dominica first and his life was a sacrifice, as he persevered in carrying out public duties, despite his physical limitations and ailments which were obvious. Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell, adding his condolences and called for greater unity among Dominicans and as well as support from the region for the country at this time. TT’s Opposition UNC said: Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday as Prime Minister shared a cordial relationship with Charles. The UNC said his passing was a “blow to the region as he had served with distinction as a servant of the people of Dominica, where he championed the cause of the downtrodden.” Prime Miniter of Jamaica PJ Patterson who is the present chairman of CARICOM also expressed great sorrow at Charles’passing and said the people of Dominica had lost a great leader.