The Early Years

On January 7^th 1958 a Dominican icon was born, Patrick Roland John. He was educated at the Roseau Boys School later moving to the St. Mary’s Academy where he would become a teacher for four years. Not too long after Mr. John took up a job at HHV Witchurch & Co. Ltd. as a shipping clerk, but this did not last for long. Mr. John quickly left that job to organize the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU).

Mr. John went on to be elected to the Roseau Town Council following which he served as mayor from 1965. As a member of the ruling Dominica Labor Party (DLP), in 1970 he contested the general elections and won the Roseau seat, serving as Minister of Communications and Works, Home Affairs, Agriculture and Finance, in the Le Blanc government at different times.

In 1974, he was Mr. Edward Leblanc’s surprise replacement, beating out Mr. R.O.P Amor and taking over the Dominica Labor Party. He then prepared the party for the 1975 general elections, leading them straight into a landslide victory; capturing 16 of the 21 seats in the House of Assembly, upon which he became the Premier of the Commonwealth of Dominica.