Oliver Seraphin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Oliver James Seraphin | |
| In office June 25 – July 21 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick John |
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| Succeeded by | Eugenia Charles |
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| Born | August 2, 1943 Roseau, Dominica |
| Nationality | Dominican |
| Political party | Democratic Labour Party |
Oliver James "O. J." Seraphin (born August 2, 1943, also Oliver James Seraphine) was the Prime Minister of Dominica from June 25, 1979, until July 21, 1980.
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[edit] Early life
Seraphin grew up in Roseau, the capital, and received primary and secondary education at Roseau Mixed School and Dominica Grammar School; later in life, he studied at the Carnegie Institute in the United States and in Cuba. Prior to politics, he worked in the insurance industry.[1]
[edit] Time in John's government
He served in the socialist Dominica Labour Party government of Prime Minister Patrick John; John held the post for five years until he forced out by protests in 1979. Seraphin originally held the posts of Minister of Communications, Works, and Housing, but in a cabinet reshuffling, the Prime Minister made him Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Caricom Affairs.[1] During this time, the Commonwealth of Dominica received its independence from the United Kingdom. When violent crowds opposed to the John government protested outside the House of Assembly, Seraphin resigned, and John did the same shortly afterward.[1]
[edit] Time as Prime Minister
Seraphin returned to government, in the position of Prime Minister, on June 25, upon request from the "Committee of National Salvation." Hurricane David, which hit Dominica in August 1979, killed 56 people, and devastated the island, would weaken his government, and he became preoccupied with rescue and rebuilding efforts. Seraphin traveled to Barbados, Canada, France, the United States, and Venezuela to seek financial aid for rebuilding his county's infrastructure. He was succeeded by Eugenia Charles, who would reign for the next 15 years, and hasn't returned to politics since. Her party, the Dominica Freedom Party, defeated his, the Democratic Labour Party (which soon faded from the political scene), by a large margin in the 1980 election.[1]
[edit] Life after politics
Seraphin's government is commonly referred to as the "Interim Government." Since leaving politics, he has returned to business, especially that which is tourism-related, and maintains a public profile.[1]
[edit] References
| Preceded by Patrick John |
Prime Minister of Dominica June 25, 1979—July 21, 1980 |
Succeeded by Eugenia Charles |
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Seraphin, Oliver James |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Seraphine, Oliver; O. J. Seraphin |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Prime Minister of Dominica |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 2, 1943 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Roseau, Dominica |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
