Sylvanie Burton

Sylvanie Burton
Burton in 2025
9th President of Dominica
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 October 2023
Prime MinisterRoosevelt Skerrit
Preceded byCharles Savarin
Personal details
Born
Salybia, Kalinago Territory, Dominica
PartyDominica Labour Party
External image
image icon Sylvanie Burton with the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Sustainable Energy, 3–4 June 2019, London

Sylvanie Burton is a Dominican politician 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]

Early life

Sylvanie Burton was born in the village of Crayfish River. She is a member of the Kalinago people.[2] She holds a bachelor's degree in rural development and a master's degree in project management.[3]

Career

Brown has served as a justice of the peace and village council clerk.[2]

Burton 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.[4]

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.[5]

Burton's first overseas trip as president was to Guadeloupe in December 2023.[6]

Personal life

Burton is a member of the Catholic Church. She married Gilbert Burton,[2] with whom she had two children.[7] She was 58 years old in August 2023[4] or born in 1956.[8] She has a master's degree in project management[4] from the University of Manchester, England,[8] and a bachelor's degree in rural development[4] from the St. Francis Xavier University, Canada.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "[Press Release] Contending for Dominica on nomination of Sylvanie Burton for office of President". Dominica News Online. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Who is President Sylvanie Burton?". The Sun Dominica. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Gov't's nominee Sylvanie Burton may soon make history as Dominica's first female and indigenous president". Dominica News Online. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  5. ↑ "Dominica: Lack of support for first female head of state nominee". Loop Caribbean News. CMC. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "President Sylvanie Burton embarks on first official overseas engagement". Dominica News Online. 20 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. 1 2 3 "Sylvanie Burton" the first female President of the Commonwealth of DominicaThe first indigenous president". London: NTL Incorporated. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
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