Musa expresses sorrow over Dominica P.M.’s death

Life on one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful islands is supposed to be stress free, but for the second time in a little over three years a Prime Minister of Dominica has died in office. Forty-nine year old Pierre Charles was rushed to the hospital yesterday after complaining of chest pains during a Cabinet meeting. He passed away later that night. Here in Belize, Prime Minister Said Musa joined other Caribbean leaders with words of praise for his fallen colleague.

Prime Minister Said Musa

“It’s very shocking news of course, Pierre Charles was a relatively young man. I did know that he was suffering from a heart ailment, but as far as I knew he was receiving treatment in the United States and had returned home, so it just comes as a complete shock. He’s been a very hard working Prime Minister ever since he took over and I must say I believe the burdens of the office took their toll on him because Dominica has been going through a very difficult period, particularly after the new banana arrangement with Europe when they were pretty much badly affected and almost wiped out and the economy has been suffering terribly, especially since 9/11 as well. So it’s fairly shocking and very distressing.”

Charles is expected to be succeeded by Minister of Education Roosevelt Skerritt. A full report on the life and death of Pierre Charles appears on Caribbean Newsline immediately following this newscast.