Edison Chenfil James

Edison Chenfil James was prime minister of Dominica from 1995 to 2000 on the platform of the United Workers Party (UWP). Born on October 18, 1943 in the village of Marigot, he succeeded Dame Eugenia Charles of the DFP.

James attended Dominica Grammar School and later proceeded to the University of East London where he obtained a B.Sc degree in Botany. He thereafter attended the University of Reading in the UK for a M.Sc in Biochemistry before heading to Imperial College, London, for a post-graduate diploma (PGD) in Crop Protection. He returned home to work at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and later the Dominica Banana Marketing Company as manager before venturing into politics.

James was one of the pioneer founders of the UWP in 1988 and also emerged as its national leader. He was voted into parliament in 1990 and became the opposition leader of the UWP. He vehemently criticized the DFP administration of Dame Eugenia Charles on several fronts, notably for the citizenship-by-a-fee programme.

The UWP contested the 1995 general elections and won, with Edison James becoming the prime minister of Dominica after defeating the incumbent Eugenia Charles. The new prime minister revived the ailing banana industry and diversified the island’s economy in numerous ways. James’ administration also embarked on capital projects such as the revitalization of schools and roads and houses as well as implementing scholarship programmes for students.

Yet it was faced with several allegations of corruption by the opposition. To justify itself as a transparent administration, James’ government called for the 2000 general elections six months before their due date. But the party lost the elections because the DFP and the DLP formed a coalition, ushering in the government of Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglas.

Following the loss of office in 2000, PM Edison James returned to the House of Assembly as opposition leader for the UWP, from where he mounted pressure on the new government to carry out various reforms. In 2005, James stepped down as opposition leader for Earl Williams to take over. He later became the president of the UWP for three years before being elected as a party leader again in 2012.

James is a Rotary Club member and very active with cricket both as player and administrator.