Late Dominica PM was grateful for Mt Hope

THE LATE Prime Minister of Dominica, Pierre Charles was eternally grateful to the staff at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) for the assistance they rendered to him during his hour of need in February 2003. This was revealed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning as he expressed the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s condolences to the people of Dominica over the death of Charles on Tuesday. On February 14, 2003, the Dominican PM fell ill while attending the 14th Inter-Sessional Caricom Heads of Government meeting in TT and underwent angioplasty surgery at the EWMSC six days later. Charles was discharged from the EWMSC on February 24 and resumed his duties three weeks later.

In an official statement yesterday, Prime Minister Manning said: “We were all aware of the Prime Minister’s battle with illness. I myself recall sadly when he became ill at the inter-sessional held in Trinidad last year and was rushed to Mount Hope where I saw him. “Upon his return to Dominica, he contacted me insisting that his gratefulness be extended, not only to the medical staff at Mount Hope, but also to all those employees who assisted him.” Manning added that Charles’ Caricom colleagues “came to appreciate that his was a valiant fight, not as much for his own personal, physical well-being as it was out of his earnest desire to remain in the best health in order to be of the best service.

“He was truly a gentleman upon whom we built an absolute trust. For this, we will always cherish our memories of him,” the Prime Minister said. Manning said Charles’ passing was “an immeasurable loss” to the people of Dominica and “all Caribbean people to whom Prime Minister Charles was so sincerely devoted and actively committed.” Barataria/San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan said Charles’ death should cause the people of TT to take stock of themselves. Khan said:“TT should take note on this solemn occasion that invincibility is not ours to proclaim and that we should put our own house in order before something similar should happen.” He said Dominica was now facing trying times “but with grace and with God’s help, we pray that they will be able to overcome any obstacle placed in their paths.”