Anniversary of Pierre Charles death today

Deceased Prime Minister Pierre Charles/Photo credit: caribbeannetnews.com

Families, friends and associates of deceased Prime Minister Pierre Charles are observing the anniversary of his death today.

According to reports, a family mass was held in Grand Bay this morning in memory of the late Prime Minister.

Charles died on the evening of January 6, 2004 following a cabinet meeting. He had been suffering from a heart condition and had complained of chest pains.

He was the second prime minister to die in office within three years, having taken over the reins of power after the sudden death of Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglas in 2000.

The late prime minister was also parliamentary representative for the Grand Bay constituency and had served as Minister of Communications and Works in the Roosevelt Douglas-led cabinet and deputy leader of the Dominica Labour Party.

During his reign as prime minister Charles was forced to implement some unpopular measures in the face of an economic downturn. He turned to the International Monetary Fund for assistance and implemented a stabilization programme which included raised taxes and decreased public spending. His measures have since been lauded, as one of the factors leading to a favorable economic climate in the country today.

Born in 1954, Charles was one of 17 children. He was married with three children. His wife Justina Charles won the Grand Bay seat in the December 18 general elections. She took her oath of office Monday as this country’s Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports.

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13 Comments

  1. FRANCIS FRANCIS CHICAGO IL
    January 6, 2011

    GREAT DOMINICAN NEVER FORGOTTEN PIERRE CHARLES ROSSIE DOUGLASS R.I.P.SEE YOU ALL IN THE PARADISE WHEN MY TIME COME’S

  2. Neg Lawi
    January 7, 2010

    A SPECIAL BIG UP TO PIERRO, WHEREVER HE MAY BE! iF HE OR ROSIE WERE THERE i WOULD HAVE VOTED LABOR!! RIP MY BRO

  3. Super
    January 7, 2010

    Rest in peace brother. Lets see if your wife can carry the torch and bring development to the community

    Voting labour for so long Grand Bay is yet to be shining. Not even under PM Charles did it shine far less for after he was gone. Things have gone from bad to worse. Grand Bay is among one of Labour ‘s strongest strongholds. Yet Grand Bay remained one of the communities with the most problems in Dominica. Crime, unemployment, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, poor infrastructures, decadence etc.

    The Labour party paid very little or no atention to Grand Bay over the years. Just because it is taken for granted that you can dress up a broom stick in red an it will win the seat for Labour Grand Bay people feel proud about that and therefore government feel comfortable ignoring the problems in the community.

    Grand Bay needs to raise its prestige and not be used as a stepping stone. Respect must be given where it is due. See so much that was done in Laplaine so that Labour could win the seat. But poor Grand Bay voting Labour for Labour for over twenty five years has been totally neglected. Were it not for for overseas nationals lending a helping hand, Grand Bay would have been perished already.

    Wake up Grand Bay. This is a new decade don’t let politicians use you for their personal gains. Make demands and see to it that you get what you deserve. You are not voting just for name or just for the the rest of Dominica to be saying that Grand Bay is a sure Labour seat.

    Your young men need jobs, your farmers need markets, Your elders need security, Your carnival need to be safe. Your streets need to be improved. Your village needs development. Stand up and be counted among the development projects planned for the country. If you can’t get what you want then show your radicalism and make a change next election. I will be watching.

  4. natasha
    January 7, 2010

    thats so sad i really like honourable pireer charls we love in god

  5. Celus
    January 6, 2010

    I remember pierre charles from the seventies when he was part of a movement for a new dominica party with para riviere, athie martin ,ron green, bernard wiltshire. Back then , they were called communists and leftist and the opposition party tried to put the fear of that party into the heads of dominicans.Since then, athie has served in the gov’t after the 79 riot in which phillip timothy died at the hands of the gov’t armed forces, rosie douglas was prime minister, pierre charles was prime minister. what a difference a few years make. I guess they weren’t so bad after all, and we haven’t gone communist yet!!!

  6. Anonymous
    January 6, 2010

    Long live the memory of an icon, a true brand and a dominican hero. You will never be forgotten and always be loved. Your legend lives on ……

  7. Grand Bayrian
    January 6, 2010

    Yes I ! Your spirit will always shine in the people that you molded. I am proud to have known you, I am glad that I was able to thank you for your direct and honest feedback, the way you always talked to us when we were growing up in the Village. When things are tough, you would say, “we have to hang in there” True to form. Thanks is not enough for a man of your character. true selfless down to earth, There will never be another Pierro.

  8. Grandbayrian/usvi
    January 6, 2010

    He loved Dominica and it’s a shame that he was disliked by so many because
    of the decesions he made to make life better for all Dominicans. He was totally
    for a better Dominica. He was also “down to earth” nothing was not to big or too little
    for him to do for the people. He never fogot his roots Good exqample for young people a
    Ministers to emulate

  9. Malcolm
    January 6, 2010

    An honourable man, a champion, a hero…… In my view our beloved country remains indebted to this man for his decisive leadership in the face of serious adversity (from all angles). He epitomises a true BRAVE HEART, the type of spirit that is worthy of emulation. He was a good exapmple to all of us and we SHALL never forget how he “bit” the “bullet” so that Dominica could regain a path of fiscal prudence, descipline and viability, much of which had gone to its lowest eb under the UWP’s reign in office……. Piero took us through austerity to that promise of a brighter day, a day of promise and better prospect.

    Nuff respect to this man and for all the virtues and principles he espoused!

    Gone but not forgotten…….

  10. SADAM HUSSEIN
    January 6, 2010

    what about rosie douglass..did we forget him

  11. onlooker!
    January 6, 2010

    oh how i had love this man , he was my personal friend,, may his legacy reign in our hearts ,, he is dearly mised…. may his soul rest in peace

  12. Mr. Prez
    January 6, 2010

    Will always admire this man for making difficult choices in spite of being serious ridiculed by his foes and friends too. Many of those who now speak good of his efforts were chief in his demise. May his soul rest in peace, if it can.

  13. Amonrah Kobadi
    January 6, 2010

    please let today be the aniversary of his life and not his death, for his works could never die.

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