Dominica’s former prime minister, Dame Eugenia Charles, passes away

The late Dame Eugenia
Charles

by Paul Charles
Caribbean Net News Dominica Correspondent

Thursday, September 8, 2005

ROSEAU, Dominica: Dominica’s former Prime Minister and the Caribbean’s first female head of government, Dame Eugenia Charles, died at a hospital in Martinique on Tuesday night, one week after she was flown there for hip replacement surgery.

Following a fall in her city residence on August 27, she was advised by local doctors to seek advanced medical attention in the neighbouring island for the damaged hip. 

Dame Eugenia, 86, ruled Dominica from 1980 and 1995, and was an internationally known figure for her role in the US intervention in Grenada in 1983. 

Many nationals expressed shock at her passing on the local broadcast media and said her contribution to the island’s development was invaluable.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit in reacting to her death said, “The entire population of Dominica has been saddened by the news of the passing of Dame Mary Eugenia Charles.” 

According to the Dominican leader, Dame Eugenia served with brilliance, stating that she rescued the country from the Caribbean’s backwaters. 

“She took Dominica from the position of being an obscure backwater in the Caribbean to the forefront of international politics and diplomacy,” he said.

Skerrit also commended the quality of leadership that the former British-trained lawyer exhibited. 

“The qualities of strong leadership, courage and authority were her biggest contributions to Dominica. It is impossible to be a wise leader without courage,” the 33-year-old PM said.

According to him, the Cabinet has afforded Dame Eugenia a State funeral at a date to be announced. 

He added that instructions have been given for all flags to be flown at half staff.

Amid the glowing tributes on the late Dame Eugenia Charles’ tenure as Dominica’s Prime Minister, some critics believe her leadership style adversely affected the country’s development.

Opposition MP and former Finance Minister Julius Timothy said Dame Eugenia’s conservative approach to governance retarded the country’s growth despite an economic boom in the 1980s.

“She was not inclined to take risks even at a time when the country’s economy was doing well with the banana industry at its peak. She had international friends and all she needed to do was take a few risks,” he said.

Timothy, who was Finance Minister in the United Workers Party’s administration from 1995 to 2000, said the country could have obtained an international airport during the reign of Dame Eugenia from 1980 to 1995 but she failed to capitalise on the close relations with US President Ronald Reagan following the 1983 intervention in Grenada, which she spearheaded. 

Also at odds with Dame Eugenia was architect and businessman Severin McKenzie who said he and others suffered as a result of her anti-Cuba stance that led to a government policy of not accepting degree qualifications from that island.

“It was a living hell as a Cuban graduate. We were not assisted or accepted by our government. Dame Eugenia would not even recognise our qualification when we returned home. The private sector followed the government and did the same,” McKenzie said. 

He added that Dame Eugenia softened her stance in the last three years of her administration, giving Cuban graduates an opportunity to work for the state.

Several opponents of Dame Eugenia, including former Prime Minister Patrick John, who she unseated in 1980 following a political upheaval a year earlier, declined to comment on her passing, saying only, “May her soul rest in peace.”

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