Crispin Sorhaindo
Encyclopedia
Crispin Anselm Sorhaindo OBE (May 23, 1931 – January 10, 2010) was the fourth President of Dominica. He served from October 25, 1993 until October 5, 1998.
Sorhaindo was born in 1931 in the village of Vieille Case
. He attended the Vieille Case Government School where his father served as the principal. He subsequently attended the Dominica Grammar School
. After some years in the public service, he was sent to study abroad at the Overseas Service Course at Trinity College, Oxford
in 1956 and 1957 as well as the Royal Institute of Public Administration in 1963 and 1964, where he undertook the Public Finance Course.
From 1950 until 1973, Sorhaindo served in several public service posts including Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils, which preceded the establishment of the House of Assembly
. He also served as the chief establishment officer, principal secretary, Ministry of Finance, and financial secretary.
In 1963, Sorhaindo served as the secretary of the Civil Service Commission on the Proposed East Caribbean Federation. There, he hoped to form a nation of "the little eight" that remained out of the collapsed West Indies Federation
(1958-1962). In 1966, he served as a delegate to the London conference that designated Dominica as a self-governing Associated State of Britain until independence in 1978.
Sorhaindo was a committed regionalist and was instrumental in various occasions during Caribbean integration. He represented Dominica at the early conferences leading to the establishment of the Caribbean Free Trade Association
(CARIFTA), the Caribbean Free Trade Area and CARICOM, the Caribbean Common Market that succeeded it, as well as meetings that laid the foundations for the establishment of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS).
Sorhaindo worked with the Caribbean Development Bank
based in Barbados from 1973 until 1988. He served in various capacities, including as bank secretary, director and vice-president during his time at the bank.
Upon his return to Dominica in 1988, Sorhaindo accepted the position of Speaker of the Dominica House of Assembly. He served from 1989 until 1993, when he was elected as president. He served a single term which ended in 1998.
Sorhaindo was a devout Roman Catholic
and served the church in many capacities as a member, chairman and president of committees and boards such as the Social Centre, Help Age International and REACH. In recognition of these services he received the Papal award of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester
in 1993. For service to the state, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire
in 1969. He was also awarded the Venezuela
n naval medal Almirante Luis Brion in 1998 and the Dominica Award of Honour in 2001.
Sorhaindo died on January 10, 2010 following a long battle with cancer
. He was survived by his wife, the former Ruby Allport, and their six children.
Sorhaindo was born in 1931 in the village of Vieille Case
Vieille Case
Vieille Case, sometimes spelled as Vielle-Case, is a village on the north coast of Dominica. The Commonwealth of Dominica in the West Indies was first inhabited by the Kalinago tribe referred to by the Europeans as Caribs. Itassi is the Kalinago name for the area in Dominica which is now known as...
. He attended the Vieille Case Government School where his father served as the principal. He subsequently attended the Dominica Grammar School
Dominica Grammar School
The Dominica Grammar School is a public co-education secondary school in Roseau, Dominica, established in 1893. Contrary to its name the school no longer functions as a 'grammar school' as it has expanded its curriculum beyond its historical scope.-History:...
. After some years in the public service, he was sent to study abroad at the Overseas Service Course at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
in 1956 and 1957 as well as the Royal Institute of Public Administration in 1963 and 1964, where he undertook the Public Finance Course.
From 1950 until 1973, Sorhaindo served in several public service posts including Clerk of the Executive and Legislative Councils, which preceded the establishment of the House of Assembly
House of Assembly of Dominica
The House of Assembly is the legislature of Dominica. It is established by Chapter III of the Constitution of Dominica, and together with the President of Dominica constitutes Dominica's Parliament. The House is unicameral, and consists of twenty-one Representatives, nine Senators, and an...
. He also served as the chief establishment officer, principal secretary, Ministry of Finance, and financial secretary.
In 1963, Sorhaindo served as the secretary of the Civil Service Commission on the Proposed East Caribbean Federation. There, he hoped to form a nation of "the little eight" that remained out of the collapsed West Indies Federation
West Indies Federation
The West Indies Federation, also known as the Federation of the West Indies, was a short-lived Caribbean federation that existed from January 3, 1958, to May 31, 1962. It consisted of several Caribbean colonies of the United Kingdom...
(1958-1962). In 1966, he served as a delegate to the London conference that designated Dominica as a self-governing Associated State of Britain until independence in 1978.
Sorhaindo was a committed regionalist and was instrumental in various occasions during Caribbean integration. He represented Dominica at the early conferences leading to the establishment of the Caribbean Free Trade Association
Caribbean Free Trade Association
The Caribbean Free Trade Association was organised to provide a continued economic linkage between the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean following the dissolution of the West Indies Federation which lasted from January 3, 1958 to May 31, 1962.The Caribbean Free Trade Association was...
(CARIFTA), the Caribbean Free Trade Area and CARICOM, the Caribbean Common Market that succeeded it, as well as meetings that laid the foundations for the establishment of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States , created in 1981, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance between countries and dependencies in the Eastern Caribbean...
(OECS).
Sorhaindo worked with the Caribbean Development Bank
Caribbean Development Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank is a financial institution which assists Caribbean nations in financing social and economic programs in its member countries...
based in Barbados from 1973 until 1988. He served in various capacities, including as bank secretary, director and vice-president during his time at the bank.
Upon his return to Dominica in 1988, Sorhaindo accepted the position of Speaker of the Dominica House of Assembly. He served from 1989 until 1993, when he was elected as president. He served a single term which ended in 1998.
Sorhaindo was a devout Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and served the church in many capacities as a member, chairman and president of committees and boards such as the Social Centre, Help Age International and REACH. In recognition of these services he received the Papal award of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Sylvester
Order of St. Sylvester
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr , sometimes referred to as the Sylvestrine Order, or the Pontifical Order of Pope St Sylvester, is one of five Orders of Knighthood awarded directly by the Pope as Supreme Pontiff and head of the Catholic Church and as the Head of...
in 1993. For service to the state, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1969. He was also awarded the Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n naval medal Almirante Luis Brion in 1998 and the Dominica Award of Honour in 2001.
Sorhaindo died on January 10, 2010 following a long battle with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was survived by his wife, the former Ruby Allport, and their six children.