Pierre Charles, community worker, teacher, farmer, Prime Minister, was born at Grand Bay in southern Dominica on 30 June 1954. He attended the Grand Bay Boys School from 1956 to 1967 and then moved on to the Dominica Grammar School from 1967 to 1970, before ending his high school education at the St.Mary's Academy from 1970 to 1972. He went into teaching at Grand Bay and attended the Dominica Teacher's Training College from 1978 to 1979. From these early days he was popularly known as "Pierro". During the 1970s he was in the forefront of community awareness projects and political activism, particularly in the Grand Bay area, assisting with the organization of the group, L'Echelle, which was one of several politically vibrant youth groups existing in Dominica at the time. Its leaders were inspired by the spirit of the left wing Caribbean political ideology of that period and had an informal network of fellow activists extending to Grenada, St.Vincent and St.Lucia. Their sympathies lay with the international non-aligned movement, made up mainly of so-called Third World countries that positioned themselves along the dividing line of Cold War politics of that era.

    L'Eschelle took part in Rosie Douglas' "Independence Committees" in the run up to Dominica's independence in 1978. When the political crisis of May - June 1979 broke, Pierre Charles, representing the Youth Council, became one of the members of the Committee for National Salvation (CNS) that brokered a solution to the constitutional impasse. When Hurricane David struck in August 1979, Grand Bay was one of the worst hit communities and Charles was a leader in reconstruction efforts there. Meanwhile, in the new reorganized parliament that was set up in June 1979, Charles was appointed a Senator, serving until the General Election of July 1980.

    In this political position Charles had to give up his teaching job in the public service and along with Athie Martin and others established Farm to Market, an organization aimed at marketing Dominica's agricultural produce abroad, in which he served as operations manager and later field manager until it folded in 1988. During this time he won the Grand Bay seat in the House of Assembly in the general elections of 1985, becoming an opposition parliamentarian for the Dominica Labour Party under the leadership of Michael Douglas. He maintained this seat in the general elections of 1990, 1995 and 2000 when the Dominica Labour Party returned to power (in coalition with the Dominica Freedom Party) after a gap of twenty years. Charles became Minister of Communications and Works in a Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Rosie Douglas. When Douglas died suddenly on 1 October 2000, Pierre Charles was his obvious successor and was thrust into the position of head of government as the economy of the island was slipping rapidly into crisis, a situation that Dominicans had been warned about as early as 1993 by Dame Eugenia Charles during her last term in office. Prime Minister, Pierre Charles' challenge had been to find ways of stemming the slide, dealing with the IMF and seeking debt relief. This was not made any easier by a series of alarms in relation to his health and the need to seek treatment for his heart condition abroad, a condition that ultimately led to his sudden death on the evening of 6 January 2004.

Prime Minister Pierre Charles: An Independence Hero

    The sudden death of Pierre Charles on the evening of Tuesday, January 6, 2004 is a grave blow to our country and people. At this time it is only fitting and proper that we ask God and all people of goodwill to comfort his family and our country. Dominicans, having lost two valiant sons in three years, Prime Minister Rosie Douglas in 2000 and Prime Minister Charles in 2004, also need to be comforted and assured that wisdom in leadership by all sides across the political divide will prevail. Actions, which are sincere and unifying, are what we need at this time in our history. Now is the time to reflect on the Prime Minister's passing and, in so doing, abandon the over-abundance of acidic criticism and vilification which seems to have soured our country in recent times.

    While this author, may have expressed disagreement with government policy that was always done constructively, with respect and understanding being foremost. That respect was born of the fact that Pierre Charles, whatever one may have thought of him had devoted a lifetime to community development, to include the 1970's Dominica Literacy Project (DOMAL); the Library Project at Tetre Lalay Grandbay; his work among humble farmers to secure them markets in the U.S. Virgin Islands and elsewhere; his work as a founding member of the Dominica Cuba Friendship Society which opened the door to the Cuban Revolution's generous university scholarship program which has educated hundreds of Dominican professionals; he led the National Youth Council from 1977, steering its support behind the national independence drive of Premier Patrick John and the Popular Independence Committee of Brother Rosie Douglas. Pierre Charles was also a well-respected teacher in his community who, in his voluntary work, went beyond the call. Of note was the fact that his discipline led him to the rank of Cadet Sergeant in the Dominica Cadet Corp; representing the island as a cadet leader during the 1972 Regional Cadet Camp in Jamaica. In July 1978, he led eleven (11) brave Dominicans, who risked government opposition to their trip, to the 11th World Festival of Youth and Students in Havana, Cuba. There, he forged links with other Caribbean and international youth leaders engaged in national liberation struggles. On their return the delegates were detained and materials seized, yet Pierre Charles struggled on for justice for all Dominicans. During the uprising of May 1979 against the errant policies of the Patrick John regime, he was a wise voice within the Committee of National Salvation within which he represented the National Youth Council.

    Human that he was, he was possessed of shortcomings. But then, who among us have not fallen short? It is to his tribute that he was able to maintain stability in the country during a time of great economic difficulty. Despite the nay sayers and the real difficulties faced, we must admit that Dominica is a safer, more peaceful and bountiful place than most countries which have had to confront the hardship of falling prices for their primary export, in our case bananas. His passing may well compel us to admit that we are too often hypercritical of others, while too short on solid contributions to the building of a viable nation-state.

    On November 3, 2003, Dominica celebrated its 25th Independence Anniversary. It was only fitting that someone who had sacrificed much to obtain and build on Dominica’s independence was at the helm. The event passed off with success. On the 4th of November, 2003 – Day of -Community Service - my brother Lawson and I traveled to Grandbay. Upon arrival, the Prime Minster’s wife, Justina said he was still doing community service. She was pleasant, gave us cold drinks and sent her son, Camilo, to accompany us and show the way. On the way, I picked up Brother Grell a venerable independence fighter who I knew from the 1970’s and my work in the leadership of the Dominica Federation of Students. He brought me up to speed on things. Spoke of the challenges, promise and disappointments of the time. At the community gathering in a partially walled yard, we met the Prime Minister. He was mingling with his constituents after a day of hard work. He was relaxed in a polo shirt and sneakers, engaged in small talk with those who came to greet him. Ever a disciplinarian, he at one point scolded someone who attempted to pass a Kubuli beer to a minor. It was twilight, and as we the last rays of sun dipped over the mountains to the west, we talked of how the Dominican Diaspora could better assist the homeland. Over the years, Dominican associations worldwide, The Rosie Douglas Foundation, The Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences had made donations, volunteered, given money, all to build the country. He appreciated such patriotism and promised to do a better job of liaising with the Diaspora, by appointing someone to be Government’s link to the far-flung Dominican communities overseas. I introduced him to some Grandbay members of the newly revived Dominica Cadet Corp who had helped clean roads that day. He saw them as the young pioneers who would soon rise to be a new disciplined leadership in the country, at a time when so many youngsters go astray. His eleven-year-old son, Camilo, (named after Cuban revolutionary hero Camilo Cienfuego) stood nearby. He looked up at his father, admiringly. He wanted to be a detective he said, “to help people.” In that moment, it would seem that the nature of Pierre Charles’ life had not been lost on his son. Camilo now has a noble legacy by which to be guided.

    At the passing of our Prime Minister, brother and friend, let us then commit ourselves to a better appreciation of our blessings as a people and nation. Let us commit to that unity of purpose and willingness to volunteer and sacrifice for the common good. Let us move from lofty phrases, to taking an active part in building; be it by volunteering with the boy scouts, Red Cross, or Cadets, building an innovative business, or mentoring a student. Let us be mindful of hurtful words, they wound the heart and may well lead to hurtful deeds. Whatever we may have thought of him, Pierre Charles was an independence hero, a man who stood for social justice. One who died at his post, giving his last full measure for Dominica. In respecting his legacy, we will be respecting ourselves and so encourage the principle that patriotic and selfless service to one's country is a blessed virtue.

    May God's grace be upon our departed Prime Minister Pierre "Pierro" Charles, and may he comfort his wife Justina, and children Faiza and Camilo and granddaughter Shidel at this sad time.

A Luta Continua!
Gabriel J. Christian, Esq.