Roosevelt Skerrit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roosevelt Skerrit
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Skerrit in 2014
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| 6th Prime Minister of Dominica | |
| Assumed office 8 January 2004 |
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| President | Nicholas Liverpool Eliud Williams Charles Savarin Sylvanie Burton |
| Deputy | Ambrose George Reginald Austrie Irving McIntyre |
| Preceded by | Osborne Riviere (acting) |
| Member of Parliament for Vieille Case |
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| Assumed office 31 January 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Vernice Bellony |
| Chairman of the Caribbean Community | |
| In office 1 July 2023 – 31 December 2023 |
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| Secretary-General | Carla Barnett |
| Preceded by | Philip Davis |
| Succeeded by | Irfaan Ali |
| In office 1 January 2010 – 30 June 2010 |
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| Secretary-General | Edwin Carrington |
| Preceded by | Bharrat Jagdeo |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Golding |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 June 1972 Princess Margaret Hospital, Roseau, Dominica |
| Political party | Dominica Labour Party |
| Spouse |
Melissa Poponne
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | New Mexico State University, Las Cruces University of Mississippi, Oxford |
| Website | Official website: http://www.rooseveltskerrit.org |
Roosevelt Skerrit (born June 8, 1972) is a politician from the island nation of Dominica. He has been the Prime Minister of Dominica since 2004, making him the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history.
A prime minister is the head of the government in many countries. They are like the main leader who runs the country's day-to-day business.
Skerrit also represents the people of the Vieille Case area as their Member of Parliament, a job he has held since 2000. He has also been a leader for the whole Caribbean region, serving as chairman for groups of island nations.
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Political Journey
Roosevelt Skerrit, sometimes called "Roozey" by friends and family, began his main political career in 2000. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Vieille Case constituency. A constituency is a specific area that elects a representative to the government.
Becoming Prime Minister
In January 2004, the Prime Minister at the time, Pierre Charles, sadly passed away. Because of this, Roosevelt Skerrit was chosen to become the new prime minister.
When he took office, he was only 31 years old. This made him the youngest head of government in the entire world at that time.
In 2005, his political party, the Dominica Labour Party, won the general election. This victory made him the first democratically elected national leader in the world who was born in the 1970s.
Leading the Nation
As Prime Minister, Skerrit has also taken on other important roles. He has served as the Minister for Finance, which means he was in charge of the country's money. He has also led the ministries for education, sports, and foreign affairs.
In December 2019, Skerrit and his party won the general election again. It was his fourth win in a row, something no other prime minister in Dominica had ever achieved.
During his time as leader, some questions were raised by news organizations and opposition parties about his government's actions. In one case, he was photographed with a businessman who was later investigated by the FBI in the United States. Skerrit stated that the FBI was not interested in him. Another report questioned how the country gave out diplomatic passports.
Working with Other Caribbean Nations
Roosevelt Skerrit has been an important leader not just in Dominica, but across the Caribbean. He has served as the chairman of two major groups:
- Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): A group of island nations in the Eastern Caribbean that work together on trade, transportation, and other issues.
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM): A larger group of 15 Caribbean nations that cooperate to improve the lives of their people.
He became the chairman of CARICOM in 2010 and again in 2023. During his time as chairman, he encouraged the member countries to find new and creative ways to make the entire region stronger.
In October 2023, following the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Skerrit called for peace and a ceasefire in the region.
See also
In Spanish: Roosevelt Skerrit para niños
