 pierre charles (30 june 1954 &ndash; 6 january 2004) was prime minister of dominica from 2000 to 2004 as well as member of parliament for grand bay, dominica from 1985 until his death. ==biography== charles was born in grand bay in saint patrick parish. he began his high-school education at the dominica grammar school and completed it at the st. mary's academy before pursuing studies at the local teachers' college. he served as a teacher and community organizer before entering elective office. he became ill in february 2003, and had angioplasty surgery. concerns about his health led to calls for him to step down. however, he continued to serve as prime minister until his death, which occurred during a medical leave of absence. osborne riviere acted as prime minister in charles' stead. however, upon return from his medical leave of absence, charles succumbed at the age of 49 to a heart attack while being driven home from a cabinet meeting."dominicaâs former prime minister remembered", davibes, 8 january 2013. ==political ascendancy== in 1979, at the age of 25, charles was appointed a senator in dominicaâs parliament. in the general elections of 1985, he contested the grand bay seat, and won, though his dominica labour party (dlp) &ndash; led by rosie douglasâs brother michael douglas &ndash; lost to the incumbent dominica freedom party (dfp) under the leadership of the formidable dame eugenia charles, dominica's longest serving head of government. for the next 15 years, pierre charles remained in that position, as irremovable from grand bay as rosie douglas was from portsmouth. when the dlp (in coalition with the dfp) came to power in 2000 under the leadership of rosie douglas, charles was appointed minister of public works and communications. du
1954_births 2004_deaths Dominica_Labour_Party_politicians Members_of_the_House_of_Assembly_of_Dominica Prime_Ministers_of_Dominica