KALINAGO MRS SYLVANIE BURTON MAKES HISTORY AS PRESIDENT ELECT

Dominica made history on Wednesday when Kalinago Mrs. Sylvanie Burton became the first female President –elect.

Mrs Burton will replace his Excellency Charles A. Savarin who demits office next month.

The Opposition’s nominee Mrs Anette Sanford received five votes while Mrs Sylvanie Burton received twenty votes.

She was nominated by Prime Minister the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit.

“The election of Mrs. Sylvanie Burton to the Office of the President of Dominica should have really been an opportunity for us to rally around one candidate and to show the world that on some things there can unity of purpose. There should really not have been any reason for there not have been one candidate but be it as it may, that’s the democratic process and everybody has a right to determine how they do things and where they do things. But nonetheless Mr. Speaker it has not robbed the country of making history. It has not robbed women of an opportunity to be grateful and that a woman for the first time in our country has been elevated to this high office,” PM Skerrit stated.

The Prime Minister said he felt honored to have this history making event unfold take place his tenure as Prime Minister. 

“And for me personally, I feel a bit emotional and I feel very humble to be the leader of the country at the time this is happening. But this is not the first occurrence of us recognizing ordinary folks and elevating them to the highest office. And so I want to say to the young people of Dominica that your future should not be determined by your circumstance, especially if you are in, or you have been, in a difficult circumstance. Challenges must be an opportunity for us to dig deeper into our God given talents and purpose in life and to say to ourselves that notwithstanding the odds that we are facing that we can overcome,” PM Skerrit added.

Mrs Burton’s election places Dominica among a handful of Caribbean Countries where women hold the position of President.