Dominica to honor late prime ministers with nation’s highest award

The Dominica government will on Tuesday present a motion in Parliament seeking approval to confer the country’s highest national honor posthumously on former prime ministers Roosevelt “Rosie” Douglas and Pierre Charles.

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According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the motion recognizes the “extraordinary national service and leadership” of both men, whose contributions “advanced Dominica’s development and inspired citizens through their dedication to social justice, education, and community upliftment.”

The government described Douglas and Charles as leaders who served the nation “with vision and courage,” adding that the tribute marks “a moment for the nation to honour two leaders who gave their all to our people, and whose example continues to inspire our spirit of resilience and our collective pursuit of a stronger, more united Dominica.”

The Award of Honour will be conferred posthumously during the official 47th anniversary of Independence observance ceremony on November 3.

Douglas, a key figure in Dominica’s independence movement, launched the Popular Independence Committee, which agitated for full political independence from Great Britain, helping to pave the way for the island to gain independence in 1978. After serving as a senator in the post-independence government, he won the Paix Bouche constituency seat in 1985 and later became the Dominica Labour Party’s International Secretary. Following the death of his brother Michael Douglas in 1992, he assumed the party’s leadership.

Known for his advocacy of socialist-inspired reform, Douglas led the DLP to victory in the January 2000 general election, defeating the United Workers’ Party of then-Prime Minister Edison James. He formed a coalition with the Dominica Freedom Party and took office as Prime Minister on February 3, 2000.

When the DLP-DFP coalition assumed power, Pierre Charles was appointed Minister of Public Works and Communications. During Douglas’s brief eight-month tenure, Charles frequently served as Acting Prime Minister. After Douglas’s sudden death in October 2000, Charles succeeded him as head of government, continuing to serve until his own passing in January 2004.

The government said it is inviting all citizens to join in honoring the two late leaders for their “legacy of service, unity, and nation-building.”