Sigma Gamma Rho’s Mary Eugenia Charles was the First Female Prime Minister of Dominica

Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, Dominica’s first female prime minister, served from 1980 to 1995, playing a significant role in shaping the island’s political landscape during a time of transition. A member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Dominica’s first female lawyer, Charles’ career spanned law, politics, and regional leadership in the Caribbean.

Born in 1919 in Pointe Michel, Charles pursued law at the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics, becoming the first woman in Dominica to practice law. She specialized in property law and was an active figure in the Dominica Bar Association where she held leadership roles. In 1980, she won the general election, becoming the first woman to serve as prime minister of Dominica.

Charles’ leadership was marked by a focus on stabilizing the nation. Her tenure included handling the fallout from “Operation Red Dog,” a thwarted 1981 coup attempt involving foreign mercenaries tied to the Ku Klux Klan who aimed to reinstate the former prime minister.

Internationally, Charles became known for her support of U.S. involvement in the 1983 invasion of Grenada, a decision that drew both support and criticism within the Caribbean and beyond.

Re-elected in 1985 and 1990, Charles governed Dominica for 15 years, making her one of the longest-serving female heads of government. She retired in 1995, and passed away in 2005 at the age of 86.

Charles’ time in office, marked a pivotal era in Dominica’s post-colonial development. Her role as Dominica’s first female leader remains a significant chapter in the country’s history.