UPDATE: Vernon Shaw passes on

President Shaw died on Monday morning
Former president Shaw died on Monday morning

Dominica’s fifth president, Vernon Shaw, has died.

DNO understands that he passed away at around 3:15 on Monday morning at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Shaw was born in Roseau on May 13, 1930.

Some of the top positions held during his career, include President of Dominica, Cabinet Secretary, Permanent Secretary and Resident Tutor of U.W.I.

He was educated at the Roseau Boy’s School, the Dominica Grammar School and Trinity College, University of Oxford, UK. On leaving school, Shaw entered into a long and distinguished career in the public service beginning as a temporary master at D.G.S in 1948.

Later that year, he moved into the general service, working in several departments during the next nineteen years: Treasury and Customs, Post Office, Central Housing and Planning, Audit and in the Ministry of Trade and Production.

During this period, he also acted as Registrar and Deputy Registrar and Principal Secretary in the first years of the ministerial system of government. When Dominica gained internal self-government as an Associated State of Britain in 1967, Shaw was a member of the team of the first Permanent Secretaries, serving initially in the Ministry of Education and Health and later External Affairs, before becoming Chief Establishment Officer in 1971.

In 1977 he was appointed Secretary to the Cabinet and was reconfirmed in the post on independence on 3 November 1978 as well as being made Ambassador at Large and Inspector of Missions. He retired from the public service in June 1990.

He served for two years (1991-1993) as Resident Tutor of the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies, Roseau. He was Chairman of the D.B.S Board (1993-1995) and of the Public Service Board of Appeal (1993-1998). He was sworn in as the fifth President of the Commonwealth of Dominica on October 2, 1998. His national awards include the Sisserou Award of Honour, conferred in 1990, and the Dominica Award of Honour, 2001.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s, he did courses of further education at Trinity College, Oxford (Development Administration), Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford (Foreign Service) and the Royal Institute of Public Administration (Advanced Public Service Management). He also held other qualifications in Accounting and Management.

He was married to Eudora Shaw (nee Massicott) and they have four children.

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50 Comments

  1. Justice and Truth
    December 2, 2013

    I remember him and his wife. As I recall him, he was a quiet, perfect gentleman.

    He has gone to his eternal reward and rest, resting from his works. My heartfelt sympathy to his wife and the rest of the family.

    Rest in Peace, Mr. Vernon Shaw!

  2. st.joe massiff #2
    December 2, 2013

    Rest in peace sir you are an example of honor and integrity public life.. may God grace be upon your family and His healing of your lost be granted to them in time.. WE thank god for blessing dominica with your touch Mr. Shaw.

  3. Kenny King & Family
    December 2, 2013

    My deepest regards to Ma-Shaw, Bobby and the rest of the family, may he rest in peace.

  4. Kenny King & Family
    December 2, 2013

    My deepest regards to Ma-Shaw, Bobby and family
    May he rest in peace.

  5. goodwill
    December 2, 2013

    his family stood by him till the end,especially his daughter verlie.what a great and commited daughter.hold strong

  6. posse
    December 2, 2013

    Dominicans must learn to keep politics where it belong, we do not have add politics to everything.
    Rest in Peace MR Shaw.

  7. Too Little Too Late
    December 2, 2013

    Rest in Peace sir, You served you country diligently.

  8. Tyre hit de road
    December 2, 2013

    RIP Mr Shaw RIP

  9. Ftexan
    December 2, 2013

    Rip mr.Shaw

  10. Tom
    December 2, 2013

    I think before President Shaw , there were President’s Marie, Degazon, Cools-Lartigue, Seignoret,Armour,Sorhaindo, I suspect I could be wrong.

  11. CIA on the Watch
    December 2, 2013

    I am watching and waiting patiently to hear what Savarin has to say because he savarin boycott the swearing in ceremony of mr Shaw

  12. Tom
    December 2, 2013

    Sincere condolences to Mrs Shaw, Bobby, Bernard, Verlie, Nurse Dorset and the rest of the family.
    A great man has expired. May his sould R.I.P

  13. Claude
    December 2, 2013

    Deepest Condolences to Bobby, Verley and the rest of the Shaw family.
    I am sure he will be greatly missed but he lives on through you now.

    “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

  14. Plan Dominque
    December 2, 2013

    One of the best sons of the soil. I worked in the public service when he was Chief Establishment Officer and then Cabinet Secretary. He was an honest, respectable and punctual man, followed and applied the rules fairly, a family man simply a good man.
    The Bin and fertilized bobol could have never occurred under his watch as Cab Sec.
    May his soul rest in peace.
    I know the present President disliked him and had much to say about him when he was General sec of the CSA. He labelled him a labourite. I will be watching and listening closely to what he, the current President, has to say on the passing of a true patriot.
    Oh how God works in mysterious ways.

  15. St. Joe Massive
    December 2, 2013

    RIP Mr Shaw. You were a great example to many

  16. faceup
    December 2, 2013

    Nice guy but was a very difficult guy to deal with.. May his soul rest in peace !

  17. Stryka
    December 2, 2013

    one of the best presidents of the state may you rest in eternal peace and your legacy live on

  18. possie long time
    December 2, 2013

    r.i.p Mr. Shaw

  19. Dominicanrite
    December 2, 2013

    A true role model indeed, he set the paste, he did his course. We are sad on his passing, may he rest peacefully.
    May God keep his family blessed and comforted.

  20. Dominica weeps.
    December 2, 2013

    May his soul RIP. Condolences to the family. He was really a good example of the Peoples president; no nonsense gun-point president.

  21. 100% Proud Dominican
    December 2, 2013

    RIP President Shaw…may your legacy as a hard working, no nonsense public servant live on, wish we had more like u…

    Deepest condolences to the children, grandchildren and great-grand children… be strong…he is free and at peace…”It is well with his Soul”!

  22. Anonymous
    December 2, 2013

    My sincere condolences to Mrs. Shaw and the rest of his family. May His Soul Rest in Peace.

  23. December 2, 2013

    he isnt dead

  24. Toomatoe Tomato
    December 2, 2013

    Sey passe nou ca passe. May your Soul Rest in Peace, Sympathies to the family.

  25. da star
    December 2, 2013

    R.i.P Mr shaw

  26. change
    December 2, 2013

    god is good and he will help you all! its sad but god knows best.

  27. Emelia jolly
    December 2, 2013

    May his soul rest in peace.

  28. Chakademus
    December 2, 2013

    Much respect and deepest condolences to his family.

  29. anonymous3
    December 2, 2013

    Rip Mr Shaw

  30. emaly
    December 2, 2013

    May his soul rest in perfect peace, death is something that no one likes to imagine but God is always in control. Hard worker he was indeed

  31. M.J.W
    December 2, 2013

    My sympathies to his family. May he rest in peace.

  32. Alex Bruno
    December 2, 2013

    Your spirit lives on, President Shaw.

  33. Samuel
    December 2, 2013

    Sincerest sympathies to the Shaw family. Mr Shaw was an excellent example of how hardwork and determination can enable any to rise to the position of his heart’s desire. May the Lord be your strength in this time.

  34. Tri-State Beauty
    December 2, 2013

    May his soul RIP.

  35. Mero
    December 2, 2013

    May he Rest in Peace

  36. Anonymous
    December 2, 2013

    vernon shaw was what president’s should be (RIP )

  37. reflection
    December 2, 2013

    My sympathy to the rest of the family, may his soul rest in peace

  38. Possi
    December 2, 2013

    On behalf of the U.W.P. Portsmouth branch we share our symphaty to the family of Mr.Vernon shaw who passed.He served his people and country with Honour.

  39. Papa Dom
    December 2, 2013

    Condolences to Mrs Shaw and Verlie Jah guide

  40. kimrah
    December 2, 2013

    rip shaw

  41. Sky
    December 2, 2013

    R.I.P.

  42. Malgraysa
    December 2, 2013

    A decent man. May his soul rest in peace.

  43. truth
    December 2, 2013

    rip

  44. Nature Spice
    December 2, 2013

    One of Dominica’s good servant and son of the soil have left us.

    May his soul Rest in Peace.

  45. me again
    December 2, 2013

    we bodyea

  46. me again
    December 2, 2013

    why

    • Morning
      December 2, 2013

      What do you mean ‘Why?’ The man suffered ill health for numerous years and he was 83. He lived a full life and had an admirable political career. Be more sensible, offer your condolences or something… :?:

    • police commissioner
      December 2, 2013

      because it is appointed upon man once to die

  47. linky
    December 2, 2013

    r i p

  48. posie lady
    December 2, 2013

    condolences to the family

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