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Michael Douglas (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Douglas
Deputy Prime Minister of Dominica
In office
June 1979 – July 1980
Prime MinisterOliver Seraphin
Preceded byHenckell Christian
Succeeded byAnthony Moise
Personal details
NationalityDominica
Political partyDominica Labour Party

Michael Douglas (1940 – 30 April 1992[1]) was a politician from Dominica. He served as Member of Parliament for the Portsmouth constituency since 1975[1] and as well as a cabinet minister for a number of years, including as Minister of Finance from 1979 to 1980[1][2] and also Deputy Prime Minister.[3]

Douglas was elected to the House of Assembly in the 1980 elections under the banner of Dominica Democratic Labour Party.[4] Douglas formed United Dominica Labour Party in 1981. His party merged back with Dominica Labour Party in 1985.[5] Douglas was then elected as the political leader of the Dominica Labour Party, and Leader of the Opposition from 1985 to 1990.[1] He resigned from party leadership position in early 1992 due to an inoperable cancer. He was temporarily succeeded as party leader by the deputy leader Pierre Charles, until November 1992, when his brother Roosevelt Douglas was elected as the party chairman.[1]

Early and personal life

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Douglas was born in 1940 in Portsmouth, which was then part of the British Leeward Islands.[6] He was the son of a wealthy entrepreneur named Bernard Douglas who was previously a coconut farmer and a conservative politician.[7] Douglas got a degree in mechanical engineering before joining the Dominica Labour Party.[8]

He was brother to the Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Douglas and father of current Cabinet Minister Ian Douglas.

Political career

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In March 1975 he was elected to the Dominica House of Assembly representing the Portsmouth constituency.[1] Shortly after he was elected an MP, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and Co-operatives in Patrick John's cabinet.[9] The following year, 1976, during a government reshuffle, he became Minister of Communications, Works, and Hydraulics.[5] However, he was dismissed by John afterwards, who accused Douglas of being a communist.[5]

Legacy

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  • Michael Douglas Boulevard in Portsmouth is named after him.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Honychurch, Lennox (1995). The Dominica Story: A History of the Island. Macmillan Education Ltd. ISBN 9780333627761.
  2. ^ Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. 1979:Sept.-Oct. 2003. hdl:2027/uiug.30112083081304.
  3. ^ "The Douglas clan should close ranks around Magistrate Behanzin". thedominican.net. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  4. ^ "1980 General Election Results - Electoral Office". electoraloffice.gov.dm. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Gunson, Phil; Chamberlain, Greg; Thompson, Andrew (22 December 2015). The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Central America and the Caribbean. Routledge. p. vii. ISBN 978-1-317-27053-9. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. ^ Andre, Irving W.; Christian, Gabriel J. (1992). In Search of Eden: Dominica, the Travails of a Caribbean Mini-state. Pond Casse Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-9699857-5-4. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  7. ^ "From Prisoner to Prime Minister, Rosie Douglas, his life and legacy (15 October 1941- 1st October 2000)". Dominica News Online. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  8. ^ ISLA. I.S.l.A. July 1985. p. 206. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  9. ^ Official Records. UN. 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Michael Douglas Boulevard - Portsmouth, Dominica". travel.domnik.net. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
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