Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit believes that Dominica owes outgoing President His Excellency Charles Savarin a debt of gratitude and appreciation for his sterling contribution made over several decades.
“While he demits office as President, I believe that we owe him a debt of gratitude, a debt of appreciation for his contribution,” Mr. Skerrit said. “He worked in many spheres as a diplomat, ambassador of the OECS, not only of Dominica but the entire OECS countries in Brussels for several years, a Senator and member of Parliament, minister, he served in the trade union, he served as a school teacher.”
Mr. Skerrit also believes that history will record His Excellency’s contribution in a very positive and constructive light.
“And I believe it is important for us to have had the benefit of having the President serve us in some difficult times,” he stated.
Mr. Skerrit said the office of the President ought to be an office where one can find stability, “and he was able to provide that to us over the 10 years.”
Furthermore, he said there is no doubt that His Excellency is a tower of a person in his physical stature, intellect, and in his contribution to Dominica’s development spanning several decades.
“He is one of the great Dominicans who stayed here in Dominica and made his contribution through various fields,” Mr. Skerrit noted. “We can have different views and different perspectives of him, but I do not believe that anyone in Dominica can deny his sterling contributions to Dominica over several decades.”
The Prime Minister continued, “He was a minister of government, a member of Parliament and I had the distinct privilege as a young Parliamentarian to have worked with His Excellency in the cabinet of 2000 and beyond. And he would always provide sound reason and sincere advice on matters which are before us.”
On behalf of himself and the government Mr. Skerrit wished Mr. Savarin well in his other endeavours and prayed that the Lord would continue to bless him and his entire family with good health and strength.
Meanwhile, he also recognized the wife of Mr. Savarin, Clara Savarin.
“I think she is also an example with so many virtues for all of us, in particular the women,” he stated.
Mrs. Sylvanie Burton, nominee of the Roosevelt-Skerrit-led administration has been duly elected as the first female President of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
