Edison James
Encyclopedia
Edison Chenfil James was the prime minister
of Dominica
from June 14, 1995 to February 3, 2000 as well as the Member of Parliament
for the Marigot constituency from 1990. He graduated from the Dominica Grammar School
. He holds a Bsc
degree in Botany from the University of East London
, a MSc
degree in Biochemistry from the University of Reading
and a post graduate diploma in crop protection technology from Imperial College. He worked in a number of local and regional institutions including the Caribbean Development Bank
, but it was as manager of the Dominica Banana Marketing Company that he rose to prominence on the island. He was instrumental in resuscitating the island's critical banana industry which had been decimated by Hurricane David
. James has been active in regional cricket as an administrator; he was Manager of the Windward Islands cricket team
and the Combined Islands cricket team
. He is also a member of the Rotary Club.
In 1988 he headed a committee which founded the United Workers' Party
and became its first political leader. From its inception the party was assailed as a group of "disgruntled businessmen"; or "greedy businessmen" by the established parties, but in 1990 the party captured 6 seats in the 21 seat House of Assembly
and James became the leader of the opposition
. As leader of the opposition, he criticized the ruling Dominica Freedom Party
for instituting an economic-citizen programme whereby persons could become citizens of the island for a fee. In the run-up to the 1995 elections, James accused the Eugenia Charles
-led government of bugging his party's offices. A commission formed to investigate the matter concluded that the allegations were baseless.
In the June 12, 1995 elections he led the party to victory with 11 out of 21 seats and became Prime Minister
. By then the banana industry was no longer vibrant and so the James-led government embarked on an ambitious program of economic diversification. They passed legislation allowing the creation of off-shore business. In addition, they sought to allow an Australian mining company to conduct exploratory drilling on the island but that move was subsequently abandoned due to criticisms that it would sully the island's reputation as "The Nature Isle". When the UWP government divested its shares in the island's sole power company, the move was met with vociferous condemnation by the opposition. The Opposition was also aroused to indignation by the government's decision to offer asylum to Saudi dissident Mohammad al-Massari
, a decision which James later admitted was based on a hope of increased British aid. The government was also pilloried for the economic citizenship program which it had re-engineered and enlarged when they came into office; some thought that the island could become a haven for criminal elements. This criticism was fuelled by the revelation that Australian fugitive Christopher Skase
had used the programme to become a citizen of the island. Trying to increase the number of stay-over visitors to the island, the UWP government sought to build an international airport, but this was again met with a cacophony of criticism as some thought that the country would not be able to pay back the debt which would have had to be contracted. The government purchased the requisite lands for the airport but did not have time to physically begin the project. The James-led government was dogged by charges of corruption and these allegations only increased as their term progressed.
James' government did produce some significant achievements. There was a proliferation in the number of scholarships available for secondary and college education. There was some success in diversifying the island's monocrop argricultural sector away from bananas and towards other crops. They also increased public spending on capital project including roads, schools and sea walls. These projects had a visible impact on the economy and the economy grew every year under James' leadership. This sort of economic program was branded 'tou-pas-touism', a Creole word meaning 'everywhere'. The opposition sought to downplay the growing economy, since they felt that it was only being financed by debt. Feeling confident with his government's achievements, James called a snap election six months before they were due in order to quell the allegations of corruption.
In the elections of January 2000, the party suffered a surprise defeat. Though they won the popular vote, the party lost 3 seats and its majority in parliament. No party won enough seats to form a government on its own. Dominica's other two major parties, the Dominica Freedom Party
and the Dominica Labour Party
, had agreed to a co-operation agreement to win the election and it was no surprise when they made a coalition against the Workers' Party. James was replaced as prime minister by Roosevelt Douglas.
As of February 2000, James returned to the office of leader of the opposition. Back in opposition, James called on the government to prosecute the charges of corruption in order to clear his party's name, but the government never charged any members of his party with wrongdoing. James was sued for libel by Eugenia Charles
as a result of the bugging allegations; he agreed to compensate as well as to publicly apologise to Dame Eugenia.
In the May 2005 elections, the party conducted a vigorous campaign but they lost one seat in parliament. James continued on as leader of the opposition. In July 2005 James was appointed to the CARICOM leaders of government and parliamentary opposition parties committee. However in December 2005, he did not seek re-election as party leader and he was replaced as leader by Earl Williams
. In July 2007 he ceded the office of Leader of the Opposition to Williams.
A February 2007 poll conducted by Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (CADRES) found that though he is no longer leader of the United Workers' Party
, Mr. James still enjoyed considerable support. 32% of respondents favored his leadership, compared to 58% for Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
and 6% for current United Workers' Party
leader Earl Williams
.
Prime Minister of Dominica
The Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom...
of Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
from June 14, 1995 to February 3, 2000 as well as the Member of Parliament
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...
for the Marigot constituency from 1990. He graduated from 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:...
. He holds a Bsc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Botany from the University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
, a MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in Biochemistry from the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
and a post graduate diploma in crop protection technology from Imperial College. He worked in a number of local and regional institutions including 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...
, but it was as manager of the Dominica Banana Marketing Company that he rose to prominence on the island. He was instrumental in resuscitating the island's critical banana industry which had been decimated by Hurricane David
Hurricane David
Hurricane David was the fourth named tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, David was among the deadliest hurricanes in the latter half of the 20th century, killing...
. James has been active in regional cricket as an administrator; he was Manager of the Windward Islands cricket team
Windward Islands cricket team
The Windward Islands cricket team is a cricket team representing the member countries of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control. The team plays in the West Indies regional tournament....
and the Combined Islands cricket team
Combined Islands cricket team
The Combined Islands cricket team were a cricket team that represented the cricket-playing islands of the Lesser Antilles, excluding Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago who fielded their own teams. They played in 13 Shell Shield tournaments from 1965-66 to 1980-81, when they won their first title and...
. He is also a member of the Rotary Club.
In 1988 he headed a committee which founded the United Workers' Party
United Workers' Party (Dominica)
The United Workers' Party is a centrist political party in Dominica. As of the 2009 general election, it is the only opposition party represented in the House of Assembly of Dominica, holding three of the twenty-one seats...
and became its first political leader. From its inception the party was assailed as a group of "disgruntled businessmen"; or "greedy businessmen" by the established parties, but in 1990 the party captured 6 seats in the 21 seat 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...
and James became the leader of the opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
. As leader of the opposition, he criticized the ruling Dominica Freedom Party
Dominica Freedom Party
The Dominica Freedom Party is a conservative political party in Dominica.The party lost all of its seats in the House of Assembly at 2005 general election, held on 5 May 2005. This was the first time since 1975 that the DFP was not elected in any seats...
for instituting an economic-citizen programme whereby persons could become citizens of the island for a fee. In the run-up to the 1995 elections, James accused the Eugenia Charles
Eugenia Charles
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, DBE was Prime Minister of Dominica from 21 July 1980 until 14 June 1995. She was Dominica's first, and to date only, female prime minister, as well as the nation's longest serving prime minister...
-led government of bugging his party's offices. A commission formed to investigate the matter concluded that the allegations were baseless.
In the June 12, 1995 elections he led the party to victory with 11 out of 21 seats and became Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. By then the banana industry was no longer vibrant and so the James-led government embarked on an ambitious program of economic diversification. They passed legislation allowing the creation of off-shore business. In addition, they sought to allow an Australian mining company to conduct exploratory drilling on the island but that move was subsequently abandoned due to criticisms that it would sully the island's reputation as "The Nature Isle". When the UWP government divested its shares in the island's sole power company, the move was met with vociferous condemnation by the opposition. The Opposition was also aroused to indignation by the government's decision to offer asylum to Saudi dissident Mohammad al-Massari
Mohammad al-Massari
Dr. Mohammad Al-Massari is an exiled Saudi physicist and political dissident who gained asylum in the United Kingdom in 1994. He runs the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights and is an adviser to the Islamic Human Rights Commission....
, a decision which James later admitted was based on a hope of increased British aid. The government was also pilloried for the economic citizenship program which it had re-engineered and enlarged when they came into office; some thought that the island could become a haven for criminal elements. This criticism was fuelled by the revelation that Australian fugitive Christopher Skase
Christopher Skase
Christopher Charles Skase was an Australian businessman who later became one of his country's most wanted fugitives, after his business empire crashed spectacularly and he fled to Majorca in Spain.-Early life:...
had used the programme to become a citizen of the island. Trying to increase the number of stay-over visitors to the island, the UWP government sought to build an international airport, but this was again met with a cacophony of criticism as some thought that the country would not be able to pay back the debt which would have had to be contracted. The government purchased the requisite lands for the airport but did not have time to physically begin the project. The James-led government was dogged by charges of corruption and these allegations only increased as their term progressed.
James' government did produce some significant achievements. There was a proliferation in the number of scholarships available for secondary and college education. There was some success in diversifying the island's monocrop argricultural sector away from bananas and towards other crops. They also increased public spending on capital project including roads, schools and sea walls. These projects had a visible impact on the economy and the economy grew every year under James' leadership. This sort of economic program was branded 'tou-pas-touism', a Creole word meaning 'everywhere'. The opposition sought to downplay the growing economy, since they felt that it was only being financed by debt. Feeling confident with his government's achievements, James called a snap election six months before they were due in order to quell the allegations of corruption.
In the elections of January 2000, the party suffered a surprise defeat. Though they won the popular vote, the party lost 3 seats and its majority in parliament. No party won enough seats to form a government on its own. Dominica's other two major parties, the Dominica Freedom Party
Dominica Freedom Party
The Dominica Freedom Party is a conservative political party in Dominica.The party lost all of its seats in the House of Assembly at 2005 general election, held on 5 May 2005. This was the first time since 1975 that the DFP was not elected in any seats...
and the Dominica Labour Party
Dominica Labour Party
The Dominica Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Dominica.-History:Founded in 1955 by Phyllis Shand Allfrey and Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, it is the oldest political party in Dominica. It first contested general elections in 1961, winning seven of the eleven seats. In the next...
, had agreed to a co-operation agreement to win the election and it was no surprise when they made a coalition against the Workers' Party. James was replaced as prime minister by Roosevelt Douglas.
As of February 2000, James returned to the office of leader of the opposition. Back in opposition, James called on the government to prosecute the charges of corruption in order to clear his party's name, but the government never charged any members of his party with wrongdoing. James was sued for libel by Eugenia Charles
Eugenia Charles
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, DBE was Prime Minister of Dominica from 21 July 1980 until 14 June 1995. She was Dominica's first, and to date only, female prime minister, as well as the nation's longest serving prime minister...
as a result of the bugging allegations; he agreed to compensate as well as to publicly apologise to Dame Eugenia.
In the May 2005 elections, the party conducted a vigorous campaign but they lost one seat in parliament. James continued on as leader of the opposition. In July 2005 James was appointed to the CARICOM leaders of government and parliamentary opposition parties committee. However in December 2005, he did not seek re-election as party leader and he was replaced as leader by Earl Williams
Earl Williams (politician)
Earl Michael Williams is the former Leader of the Opposition in Dominica and former Political Leader of the United Workers' Party.-Early life and career:...
. In July 2007 he ceded the office of Leader of the Opposition to Williams.
A February 2007 poll conducted by Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (CADRES) found that though he is no longer leader of the United Workers' Party
United Workers' Party (Dominica)
The United Workers' Party is a centrist political party in Dominica. As of the 2009 general election, it is the only opposition party represented in the House of Assembly of Dominica, holding three of the twenty-one seats...
, Mr. James still enjoyed considerable support. 32% of respondents favored his leadership, compared to 58% for Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Roosevelt Skerrit
Roosevelt Skerrit is a Dominican politician who has been Prime Minister of Dominica since 2004; he has also been the Member of Parliament for the Vieille Case constituency since 2000...
and 6% for current United Workers' Party
United Workers' Party (Dominica)
The United Workers' Party is a centrist political party in Dominica. As of the 2009 general election, it is the only opposition party represented in the House of Assembly of Dominica, holding three of the twenty-one seats...
leader Earl Williams
Earl Williams (politician)
Earl Michael Williams is the former Leader of the Opposition in Dominica and former Political Leader of the United Workers' Party.-Early life and career:...
.