Dominica this Wednesday he chose Sylvanie Burton 58 years old, same as the first indigenous woman and head of state in its historywith 20 votes for and 5 against, won after a meeting with the opposition candidate, Annette Sanford.

Burtonnative of the region Kalinagoindigenous city located in the northeast of the country is expected to will take office on October 2.

Prime Minister of the island territory, Roosevelt Skerrit, noted that “youwoman, for the first time in the history of our countrywas recognized and elevated to this high position.”

The President-elect will be sworn in on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center.

I also thank the President, His Excellency Charles A. Savarin, and Mrs. Clara Savarin for their distinguished years of service to the Commonwealth of Dominica.

—Roosevelt Skerrit (@SkerritR) September 27, 2023

In addition, he emphasized the importance of having “first Kalinago person elected to office the highest in our country.”

I believe that all women in Dominica, and throughout the world, should celebrate this historic event today when a woman was elected.

The elections were marred by the opposition, which argued that the newly appointed head of state did not meet the requirements for the position because she was still working as a high-ranking government official.

However, Skerritt disputed the charges. represented by an opposition MP, Sean Douglas.

“Their arguments of the House of Representatives that the candidate is not qualified cannot be supported,” the Dominican Republic president said, adding that Burton retired from government service on September 11 of this year.

Besides, Skerrit demanded a five-minute break in the parliamentary session to allow Douglas investigate these facts and The opposition candidate was in the same conditions.

After the meeting resumed, the leader of the oppositionJesma Paul Victor, supported the decision to continue the voting process.

However, the Chairman of Parliament Joseph Isaac informed legislators that the matter could come to electronicl Court of Appeal Chambers.

After voting, The Prime Minister praised the outgoing head of state for having provided “outstanding service, dedication and love to a nation and country so vast, so deep and so sincere.”

On the other side, He expressed regret that there is no unity in the House of Representatives to the elections as an opportunity to “show the world that there can be unity of purpose in some things.”

Burton specializes in rural development and project management, she has been a senior government official since 2014 and served as permanent secretary Ministry of Environment and Rural Modernization of Dominica.

Dominicaofficially Commonwealth of Dominica– an island and republic, part of the Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea. It is located between the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. It belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations. It has a territorial area of ​​7,511 km² and, according to the latest 2020 census, has a populatione 69 thousand 279 inhabitants.

(according to information from EFE)