Patrick John
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Patrick Roland John (born 7 January 1938) was the Prime Minister of Dominica
as well as the Premier of Dominica
. During his premiership Dominica gained independence
from the United Kingdom
and he became the first Prime Minister of Dominica
. He was a successful trade union
leader and a mayor of Roseau
before taking on prime ministerial duties. After mass protest forced him to resign, John unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Eugenia Charles
with the backing of white supremacist
groups (in what became dubbed "Operation Red Dog
"). As a result, he was jailed for twelve years.
Following his release from prison, John, formerly a member of the Dominica national football team
, became a local football administrator. In 1992 he was elected President
of the Dominica Football Association
(DFA). Under his leadership the DFA became a FIFA
affiliate in 1994. He served as President until 2006, when he was voted out of office by the local football fraternity. In 2007 he was inducted into the CONCACAF
Hall of Fame. In May 2008 he was re-elected as President of the DFA. The DFA administrative headquarters is named "Patrick John Football House" in honour of John. In November 2011, John was banned by FIFA from the sport for two years and fined $3,300, for his part in an alleged bribery scheme involving FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Patrick Roland John (born 7 January 1938) was the Prime Minister of Dominica
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...
as well as the Premier of Dominica
Premier of Dominica
The Premier of Dominica was responsible for chairing Cabinet meetings in Dominica following the passage of the West Indies Associated States Act. Under this act, the Cabinet had responsibility for domestic affairs, while foreign affairs were determined out of London.The only two people to have held...
. During his premiership Dominica gained independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and he became the first Prime Minister of Dominica
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...
. He was a successful trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader and a mayor of Roseau
Roseau
-Architecture:The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city...
before taking on prime ministerial duties. After mass protest forced him to resign, John unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the government of Prime Minister 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...
with the backing of white supremacist
White supremacy
White supremacy is the belief, and promotion of the belief, that white people are superior to people of other racial backgrounds. The term is sometimes used specifically to describe a political ideology that advocates the social and political dominance by whites.White supremacy, as with racial...
groups (in what became dubbed "Operation Red Dog
Operation Red Dog
Operation Red Dog was the code name of plan by Canadian and American mercenaries, largely affiliated with white supremacist and Ku Klux Klan groups, to overthrow the government of Dominica, where they planned to restore former Prime Minister Patrick John to power...
"). As a result, he was jailed for twelve years.
Following his release from prison, John, formerly a member of the Dominica national football team
Dominica national football team
The Dominica national football team is the national team of Dominica and is controlled by the Dominica Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is among its weakest teams, getting beaten 10–0 and 8–0 by Mexico in 2006 World Cup qualifying....
, became a local football administrator. In 1992 he was elected President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Dominica Football Association
Dominica Football Association
The Dominica Football Association is the governing body of football in Dominica.The Dominica national football team is the national team of Dominica and is controlled by the Dominica Football Association.-External links:* at the FIFA website....
(DFA). Under his leadership the DFA became a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
affiliate in 1994. He served as President until 2006, when he was voted out of office by the local football fraternity. In 2007 he was inducted into the CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
Hall of Fame. In May 2008 he was re-elected as President of the DFA. The DFA administrative headquarters is named "Patrick John Football House" in honour of John. In November 2011, John was banned by FIFA from the sport for two years and fined $3,300, for his part in an alleged bribery scheme involving FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.
External links
- Tull: Tell us about coup rumours, NationNews, 4 October 2006