Oliver Seraphin
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
government of Prime Minister Patrick John
; John held the post for five years until he was 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. 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.
, 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.
-related, and maintains a public profile.
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
from June 25, 1979, until July 21, 1980.
Early life
Seraphin grew up in RoseauRoseau
-Architecture:The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city...
, the capital, and received primary and secondary education at Roseau Mixed School and Dominica Grammar School
Dominica Grammar School
The Dominica Grammar School is a public co-education secondary school in Roseau, Dominica, established in 1893. Contrary to its name the school no longer functions as a 'grammar school' as it has expanded its curriculum beyond its historical scope.-History:...
; later in life, he studied at the Carnegie Institute
Carnegie Institute of Technology
The Carnegie Institute of Technology , is the name for Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. It was first called the Carnegie Technical Schools, or Carnegie Tech, when it was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie who intended to build a “first class technical school” in Pittsburgh,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Prior to politics, he worked in the insurance industry.
Time in John's government
He served in the socialist Dominica Labour PartyDominica Labour Party
The Dominica Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Dominica.-History:Founded in 1955 by Phyllis Shand Allfrey and Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, it is the oldest political party in Dominica. It first contested general elections in 1961, winning seven of the eleven seats. In the next...
government of Prime Minister Patrick John
Patrick John
Colonel Patrick Roland John was the Prime Minister of Dominica as well as the Premier of Dominica. During his premiership Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom and he became the first Prime Minister of Dominica. He was a successful trade union leader and a mayor of Roseau before...
; John held the post for five years until he was 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
Caribbean Community
The Caribbean Community is an organisation of 15 Caribbean nations and dependencies. CARICOM's main purposes are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy...
Affairs. During this time, the Commonwealth of Dominica received its independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. When violent crowds opposed to the John government protested outside the House of Assembly
House of Assembly of Dominica
The House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and an...
, Seraphin resigned, and John did the same shortly afterward.
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 DavidHurricane David
Hurricane David was the fourth named tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, David was among the deadliest hurricanes in the latter half of the 20th century, killing...
, 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
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United States, and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
to seek financial aid for rebuilding his county's infrastructure. He was succeeded by Eugenia Charles
Eugenia Charles
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, DBE was Prime Minister of Dominica from 21 July 1980 until 14 June 1995. She was Dominica's first, and to date only, female prime minister, as well as the nation's longest serving prime minister...
, who would reign for the next 15 years, and hasn't returned to politics since. Her party, the Dominica Freedom Party
Dominica Freedom Party
The Dominica Freedom Party is a conservative political party in Dominica.The party lost all of its seats in the House of Assembly at 2005 general election, held on 5 May 2005. This was the first time since 1975 that the DFP was not elected in any seats...
, defeated his, the Democratic Labour Party (which soon faded from the political scene), by a large margin in the 1980 election.
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 tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
-related, and maintains a public profile.