Dame (Mary) Eugenia Charles, DBE (May 15, 1919–September 6, 2005) was the Prime Minister of Dominica from July 21, 1980 until June 14, 1995. She was the first female prime minister in the Caribbean. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister A prime minister may be either: chief or leading member of the cabinet of the top-level government in a country having a parliamentary system of government; or the official, in countries with a semi-presidential system of government, appointed to manage the... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Born in Pointe Michel, Dominica, She began campaigning in politics during the 1960s against restrictions on press freedom. She helped to found the Dominica Freedom Party, which she served as leader from the early 1970s until 1995. She was elected to Parliament in 1970 and became Opposition Leader in 1975. Though she and her party were characterized as conservative, this was partially in comparison to socialist leaders in the Caribbean, as she did support some social welfare programs. Other issues that were important to her were anti-corruption measures and individual freedom. The Dominica Freedom Party is a conservative political party in Dominica. ...

Eugenia Charles became Prime Minister when her party won elections shortly after Dominica gained full independence from British rule in 1979. She became more widely known to the outside world during the US invasion of Grenada in 1983, when, in her role as chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), she appeared on television with Ronald Reagan to offer her support. For her uncompromising stance on this and other controversial issues, she became known as the "Iron Lady of the Caribbean" (after the original "Iron Lady", Margaret Thatcher). Shortly after her retirement from politics her party lost the 1995 elections. She also served as Foreign Minister of Dominica from 1980 to 1990. She was created a dame in 1992. This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) includes the member states of: Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda British Virgin Islands Dominica Grenada Montserrat Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The OECS was created on 18 June 1981, with the Treaty of Basseterre, named after the capital... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ... The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925), is a British politician. ... A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the governmental foreign policy of a sovereign nation. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... This article is about the year. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

On August 30, 2005, Dame Eugenia Charles was taken to a hospital in Fort-de-France, Martinique for hip replacement surgery and died from complications soon after on September 6 at the age of 86. August 30 is the 242nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (243rd in leap years), with 123 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fort-de-France is the capital of Frances Caribbean département doutre-mer of Martinique. ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ...

External links

About Eugenia Charles' Funeral