Oliver Seraphin

Oliver James Seraphin
In office June 25, 1979 – July 21, 1980
Preceded by	Patrick John
Succeeded by	Eugenia Charles
Personal details
Born	August 2, 1943 Roseau, Dominica
Nationality	Dominica
Political party	Dominica 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.

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]

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 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.^[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]

The path of Hurricane David. Dominica is obscured by an orange dot

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]

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]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Honychurch, Lennox. "Seraphin, Oliver, James "O.J.":". Lennox Honychurch's A-to-Z of Dominica's Heritage. http://www.lennoxhonychurch.com/heritage.cfm?Id=214. Retrieved 2006-11-10. 

Preceded by Patrick John

Prime Minister of Dominica June 25, 1979—July 21, 1980

Succeeded by Eugenia Charles

Persondata
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