Former head of state dies

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Former president, Crispin Sorhaindo, died here on Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 78.

Sorhaindo, who was President of this Caribbean island from 1993-98, also served as Speaker of the Dominica House of Assembly, Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils and was also the island’s financial secretary.

In 1963, he served as secretary to Civil Service Commission on the proposed East Caribbean Federation, following the collapse of the West Indies Federation in 1962.

Sohaindo was also a member of numerous state-owned boards in Dominica and served also on the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission (ECSRC).

Between the period 1973 to 1988, he was a director and Vice-President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

His official biography described him as “a committed regionalist who had wide experience in all of the recent attempts, and successes, at various types of Caribbean integration, representing Dominica at the early conferences leading to the establishment of CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Area) and CARICOM, (the Caribbean Common Market) that succeeded it, as well as those meetings that laid the foundations for the establishment of the Caribbean Development Bank and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).”

Sorhaindo received the Papal award of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester in 1993 and was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1969, the Venezuelan Naval Medal Almirante Luis Brion in 1998 and the Dominica Award of Honour in 2001.

Sorhaindo is survived by his wife, Ruby, and six children.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

23 Comments

  1. Gilda Miller
    January 19, 2010

    My condolences goes out to the entire family.

  2. Taz
    January 12, 2010

    I had the privilege of working with Mr. Sorhaindo and he demonstrated a great degree of professionalism as well as humility despite his vast level of experience and knowledge.

    To the Sorhaindo family, a great thank you for the many years Mr. Sorhaindo gave selflessly to Dominica.

    God bless, and may he rest in peace.

  3. chauntelle sorhaindo
    January 12, 2010

    uncle crispin was such a loving man. He will be missed dearly…xxx

  4. sheona sorhaindo
    January 12, 2010

    I just wanted to say this was beautifully written. He will be missed by his family greatly and its nice to know that not only his family know how great he is. Thank you.

  5. sadden
    January 12, 2010

    rest in peace sir.

  6. Fair&Square
    January 12, 2010

    May his soul Rest In Peace.

  7. Celus
    January 11, 2010

    He’ll be sorely missed by dominicans and regional associates.I had the good fortune of being taught by one of the family at st mary’s academy. Great family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. Kernita
    January 11, 2010

    Deepest condolances to the family ad friends who are left to mourn. RIP. You served Dominica well.

  9. sadam hussein
    January 11, 2010

    r.i.p

  10. RIGHTEOUS
    January 11, 2010

    i visited his home once..he was so kind and warm to me…. a complete stranger…he picked me a gardenia from his garden and told me to smell it and stick it behind my ear….will never forget u mr S…R.I.P

  11. J Sorhaindo
    January 11, 2010

    My heart felt condolences to the family.

  12. January 11, 2010

    Another great son of the soil has passed. May he rest in PEACE.

  13. Ronald
    January 11, 2010

    My sympathies to the family of this great Dominican. He served us exceptionally well. It is my sincere hope that history will do justice to his yeoman service to the Dominican and caribbean development agenda.

    May his soul rest in peace. To his wife and children I say take comfort in the fact that your husband and father did his utmost to advance the cause of humanity wherever the Lord led him. His was a life spent in the service of humanity. His sufferings are over. He is with his maker now.

    Take no pictures at his funeral. Just remember him when he was alive and made you all laugh, gave a wise, christian counsel to anyone who sought his advice,

    Mr. President, sleep in peace.

  14. Teacher
    January 11, 2010

    I had the opportunity to converse with this humble son of the soil and i must say that I learnt a lot from him. My sympathies to his wife and family. may he rest in Eternal Peace.

  15. Joey Vanterpool
    January 11, 2010

    I first met this humble, dedicated, and inspiring individual when I was a young altar boy at the Roseau Cathedral circa 1950’s. Crispin Sorhaindo was one of the few individuals in Dominica whose character never became tainted in one form or another. May God receive him.

  16. Thoughtful
    January 11, 2010

    A great Dominican.

    May he rest in peace.

  17. K.A
    January 11, 2010

    Uncle Crispin, you were a man of God, a man of family and just an amazing man all around! I am thankful that I was fortunate enough to have spent many years around you as a child and teenager. May your soul rest in perfect peace!

  18. concern
    January 11, 2010

    May your soul rest in peace, as a young girl growing up i remember Dame Eugenia Charles hailing Mr. Sohrindo as a well respected and devoted president. R.I.P Sir Crispin

  19. Nana
    January 11, 2010

    May his sould rest In peace. We have lost another great son of the soul. Sympathy to his Wife, children and Dominicans by extention.

  20. Winston
    January 11, 2010

    Condolences go out to his family. May he rest in peace.

  21. Patriotic B
    January 11, 2010

    May his soul rest in peace. A great figure and mentor to the Dominican people and one who will never be forgotten for his role in Dominica and the caribbean community. Sympathies to his entire family.

  22. Anonymous
    January 11, 2010

    he’ll be greatly missed

  23. Mary
    January 11, 2010

    May his soul rest in peace, good man.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available