Eugenia Charles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Eugenia Charles
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Charles at the United Nations, New York, in 1985
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| 2nd Prime Minister of Dominica | |
| In office 21 July 1980 – 14 June 1995 |
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| President | Aurelius Marie Clarence Seignoret Crispin Sorhaindo |
| Preceded by | Oliver Seraphin |
| Succeeded by | Edison James |
| Member of Parliament for Roseau Central |
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| In office 24 March 1975 – 14 June 1995 |
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| Succeeded by | Charles Savarin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1919 Pointe Michel, Dominica |
| Died | 6 September 2005 (aged 86) Fort-de-France, Martinique |
| Political party | Freedom Party |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto London School of Economics |
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles (born May 15, 1919 – died September 6, 2005) was an important politician from Dominica. She served as the Prime Minister of Dominica from July 21, 1980, to June 14, 1995.
Eugenia Charles was the first female lawyer in Dominica. She was also Dominica's first, and so far only, female prime minister. She was the second female prime minister in the Caribbean. She was also the first woman in the Americas to be chosen as a head of government by voters. She was Prime Minister for a very long time, making her one of the longest-serving female prime ministers in the world. People often called her the "Iron Lady of the Caribbean" because she was strong and determined.
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Early Life and Education
Eugenia Charles was born on May 15, 1919. She grew up in a fishing village called Pointe Michel in Dominica. Her family was well-known and respected in the community. Her father was a mason who became a successful landowner and businessman.
She went to the Convent High School in Roseau, Dominica. This was the only secondary school for girls on the island at that time. Later, she became interested in law while working at a local court.
Charles studied at the University of Toronto in Canada. She earned her law degree there in 1947. After that, she moved to the United Kingdom to study at the London School of Economics. She became a barrister in London in 1947.
When she returned to Dominica, she became the island's first female lawyer. She focused on property law. She also helped run the Dominican Cooperative Bank, which her father had started. She even created the country's first student loan program.
Eugenia Charles never married or had children. In 1991, she was given a special honor. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This is a very high award from the United Kingdom.
Political Journey
Eugenia Charles started her political work in the 1960s. She spoke out against rules that limited what newspapers could print. She wrote articles in newspapers, using a different name, to criticize the government.
In 1967, she joined a group called the Freedom Fighters. This group was against a law that limited free speech. In 1968, her group joined with another to form the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP). Charles became the leader of this new party in 1969. She led the party until 1995.
She ran for a seat in the House of Assembly of Dominica in 1970 but did not win. However, in the 1975 election, she won the seat for Roseau Central. She then became the Leader of the Opposition. This meant she was the main voice against the government.
Charles helped Dominica gain full independence from British rule in 1978.
Becoming Prime Minister
In 1980, the DFP won the general election. Eugenia Charles became the Prime Minister. She took over from Oliver Seraphin. Her first big job was to help Dominica recover from Hurricane David. This powerful hurricane had hit the island in 1979 and caused a lot of damage.
She also held other important roles. She was Dominica's Foreign Minister from 1980 to 1990. She was also the Minister of Finance from 1980 to 1995. She even led the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Facing Challenges
In 1981, she faced two attempts to overthrow the government. In one event, the commander of Dominica's military attacked the police headquarters. A police officer died in this attack. The commander and others were found guilty.
Another attempt in 1981 involved a group of people from Canada and America. They planned to bring back the former Prime Minister. But American agents stopped this plan in New Orleans.
Charles became more widely known around the world in 1983. This was because of her role in the events leading up to the United States invasion of Grenada. After the leader of Grenada was arrested and killed, Charles, as head of the OECS, asked the United States and other Caribbean countries for help. She appeared on television with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, supporting the action.
She was re-elected in 1985 and again in 1990. Her party was seen as conservative. However, many of her policies helped people, like social welfare programs. She also cared deeply about fighting corruption and protecting individual freedoms. Her strong beliefs and leadership earned her the nickname "Iron Lady of the Caribbean."
Later Years and Passing
After serving three terms, Eugenia Charles decided to retire in 1995. Her party then lost the 1995 election.
After retiring, Charles traveled and gave speeches. She also worked with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's Carter Center. This center works to promote human rights and ensure elections are fair around the world.
On August 30, 2005, Charles went to a hospital in Fort-de-France, Martinique, for hip surgery. She sadly passed away on September 6, 2005, at the age of 86. She was buried in Pointe Michel on September 14.
See also
- First women lawyers around the world
