Sylvanie Burton is a politician from Dominica who has served as the president of Dominica since 2023, after being elected in the 2023 Dominican presidential election. She is the first woman and first Indigenous (Kalinago) president of Dominica.[1]
Sylvanie Burton | |
|---|---|
| 9th President of Dominica | |
| Assumed office 2 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Roosevelt Skerrit |
| Preceded by | Charles Savarin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Salybia, Kalinago Territory, Dominica |
| Political party | Dominica Labour Party |
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Sylvanie Burton with the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Sustainable Energy, 3-4 June 2019, London |
Career
editBurton has served as permanent secretary in various ministries since 2014, within the ministries of Community Development, Environment, Rural Modernization, Kalinago Upliftment, and Constituency Empowerment, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Youth and Social Services. Burton has also previously held the position of Development Officer in the Ministry of Kalinago Affairs.[2]
Burton was nominated by the DLP government led by Roosevelt Skerrit to succeed outgoing president Charles Savarin. Her nomination was rejected by the leader of the opposition, Jesma Paul Victor, leading to an election within parliament against the opposition's nominee.[3]
Personal life
editBurton is married with two children.[4] She was 58 years old in August 2023[2] or born in 1956.[5] She has a master's degree in project management,[2] educated at the University of Manchester, England,[5] and a bachelor's degree in rural development,[2] educated at the St. Francis Xavier University, Canada.[5]
References
edit- ^ "[Press Release] Contending for Dominica on nomination of Sylvanie Burton for office of President". Dominica News Online. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Gov't's nominee Sylvanie Burton may soon make history as Dominica's first female and indigenous president". Dominica News Online. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Dominica: Lack of support for first female head of state nominee". Loop Caribbean News. CMC. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Popovic, Caroline (1 September 2023). "Le gouvernement de la Dominique souhaite nommer une femme d'origine Kalinago chef d'État de l'île". Martinique la 1ère (in French). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sylvanie Burton" the first female President of the Commonwealth of DominicaThe first indigenous president". London: NTL Incorporated. Retrieved 27 December 2023.