Sherma Dalrymple from Dominica

Sherma Dalrymple is the Director of Public Prosecutions of Dominica, the constitutional office that leads criminal proceedings on behalf of the state and supervises crown prosecutors. She acted as DPP for about two years before receiving a permanent instrument of appointment in March 2023. She is a career state attorney and prosecutor who has emphasised stronger handling of firearm-related cases.

Early life and education

Dalrymple is a Dominican national who graduated from Hugh Wooding Law School and was called to the Bar in Dominica in 2009. Prior to entering full-time prosecution work, she lectured in paralegal studies and corporate and partnership law at Dominica State College.

Legal career

After her call in 2009, Dalrymple began as a State Attorney in the Attorney General’s Chambers, then shifted to criminal practice in 2012 as a State Prosecutor in the Office of the DPP. She served on the Dominica Air and Sea Port licensing board and as a director with the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) while continuing courtroom work. Following the departure of former DPP Evelina Baptiste in 2021, Dalrymple was appointed Acting DPP; she was confirmed to the post in March 2023.

After her appointment, Dalrymple set priorities that included tackling firearms offences more efficiently, using paper committals to speed serious matters to the High Court. Her office has also issued public warnings regarding realistic imitation firearms and has led appeals in significant criminal cases, reflecting the mandate of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to review rulings and pursue remedies in the public interest.

Responsibilities and related institutions

As DPP, Dalrymple provides legal direction to law enforcement during investigations, files and conducts indictable matters in the High Court, and oversees prosecutors appearing in the Magistrate’s Court. The office works alongside the Ministry of National Security on policy issues such as modernizing the Firearms Act.