Roosevelt “Rosie” Douglas

Roosevelt Bernard “Rosie” Douglas (15 October 1941 – 1 October 2000) was a Dominican politician, international activist, and Prime Minister of Dominica from February 2000 until his death in October the same year. His life journey, from a privileged upbringing to radical activism in Canada, and ultimately to national leadership, reflected a deep commitment to social justice, Pan-Africanism, and reimagining Dominica’s global role.

Early Life and Education of Rosie Douglas

Born in Portsmouth, Douglas was the son of Robert Bernard Douglas, a successful coconut farmer and conservative politician. The household was politically engaged, with his siblings named after prominent world leaders such as Eisenhower and Attlee. Educated in Roseau first at Saint Mary’s Academy and then Dominica Grammar School, Rosie went on to study agriculture at the Ontario Agricultural College in Canada.

Despite his elite background, Rosie quickly distanced himself from the privileges of wealth and began shaping a radically different worldview grounded in equality and internationalism.

Political Awakening and Activism in Canada

Douglas’s years in Canada were transformative. Initially aligned with the Progressive Conservative Party under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, he advocated for Black Canadians and immigrant women. His firsthand exposure to racism in Nova Scotia’s Black communities and Quebec’s Indigenous reservations moved him toward radical politics.

He helped organise the influential 1968 Congress of Black Writers in Montreal, attracting global activists like Angela Davis, C.L.R. James, and Walter Rodney. During the 1969 Sir George Williams Affair, an anti-racist protest at a Montreal university, Douglas emerged as a key voice and was ultimately imprisoned and deported. While incarcerated, he wrote “Chains or Change,” offered literacy classes, and developed a blueprint for prison reform in Canada.

He later reflected that his political consciousness was sharpened in Canada, not Dominica. This conviction shaped his lifelong focus on justice for oppressed peoples everywhere.

Return to Dominica and the Fight for Independence

Douglas returned to Dominica in 1976 at a critical political moment. The country was approaching independence from Britain amid social unrest, labor strikes, and fears of radicalism. Douglas formed the Popular Independence Committee and, alongside figures like Pierre Charles and Bernard Wiltshire, mobilised national support for sovereignty.

He helped establish study circles and independence committees across the island, particularly energising the youth. Despite fierce opposition from conservative institutions, his grassroots organizing helped build the public support necessary for Britain to grant Dominica independence in 1978.

Douglas believed political independence was a necessary first step toward deeper structural reform. Even critics who questioned his timing came to acknowledge the effectiveness of his strategy.

International Diplomacy and Global Solidarity

After returning from Canada, Douglas did not retreat into insularity. Instead, he expanded Dominica’s diplomatic footprint. He led delegations to Cuba, China, Libya, and the Soviet Union, securing scholarships for Dominican students and advocating South-South cooperation. In 1984, he and Portsmouth Mayor Renwick Jean Pierre led Dominica’s first mission to the People’s Republic of China, securing a US$1 million commitment for a multipurpose community complex.

Douglas served as Executive Chairman of the World Mathaba in Libya, an organisation that supported anti-colonial liberation movements. He worked with figures like Muammar Gaddafi and Nelson Mandela, negotiated in matters like the Lockerbie bombing, and condemned international sanctions on countries like Iraq and Cuba. He believed Dominica, though small, could wield moral leadership on the global stage.

National Political Career

Domestically, Douglas became increasingly involved in national politics. He served as a senator, then as Member of Parliament for Paix Bouche Constituency from 1985. Following the death of his brother Michael Douglas in 1992, he became the leader of the Dominica Labour Party. Under his leadership, the DLP evolved into a progressive force for economic and diplomatic transformation.

He was unrelenting in his belief that Dominica needed to diversify its international alliances, seeking relationships with traditional Western partners and revolutionary governments that shared a vision for post-colonial development.

Premiership and Governance

In the January 2000 general elections, Douglas led the DLP to victory against Edison James’s United Workers Party. He formed a coalition with the Dominica Freedom Party and was sworn in as Prime Minister on 3 February 2000.

His administration was short-lived but bold. He signed a US$300 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China for infrastructure projects, pursued the development of an international airport, and cultivated ties with European and African partners. He called on African Americans to invest in Dominica and sought IT and medical tourism support from Scandinavian nations.

Douglas’s vision for Dominica was unapologetically global, grounded in justice and opportunity, especially for the Caribbean’s marginalised youth.

Personal Life and Leadership Style

Despite his international stature, Douglas remained grounded in Portsmouth, where he is still celebrated as a son of the soil. Known for his charisma and intellectual depth, he often quoted revolutionaries and philosophers, and maintained connections across ideological boundaries, from Cuban diplomats to Canadian conservatives.

Friends described him as principled, bold, and pragmatic. He resisted political entrenchment, cared little for personal power, and centred his policies on national interest. His insistence on transparency and self-reliance put him at odds with some regional leaders but also earned him respect across party lines.

Death and National Mourning

Douglas died suddenly on 1 October 2000 at his home in Portsmouth, shortly after returning from state visits to Libya, Taiwan, and Australia. His passing shocked the nation and the region. His funeral united heads of state, activists, and citizens in grief and reflection.

Pierre Charles succeeded him, and later by Roosevelt Skerrit, both of whom inherited aspects of his vision, though not always his methods.

The Legacy of Rosie Douglas

Douglas’s legacy remains powerful. He reshaped Dominica’s diplomacy, raised the island’s profile in international politics, and challenged economic dependence. He was ahead of his time in promoting engagement with China, long before such partnerships became mainstream in the Caribbean.

Notably, Douglas warned against the unchecked spread of foreign commercial interests. In 1992, he argued that foreign investment should avoid petty trade and local services, which should remain the domain of Dominicans. This stance remains relevant amid growing debates about economic sovereignty in Dominica today.

Rosie Douglas left a lasting mark in education, diplomacy, Black liberation, and national pride. His short term in office should not be mistaken for a small legacy. Instead, it culminated decades of advocacy, sacrifice, and leadership.

He was a revolutionary statesman who never wavered in the belief that small islands, too, can dream big and stand tall.