SEAGA
EDWARD SEAGA, who formed a strong bond with the late Dominica Prime Minister, Dame Eugenia Charles, during the 1980s, yesterday recognised his departed colleague as a 'forceful and determined leader.'
Mr. Seaga and Dame Eugenia threw their support behind the October 1983 invasion of Grenada that was led by the United States. Although it restored stability to the tiny Caribbean island just days after Prime Minister Maurice Bishop's government was overthrown by a military coup, the invasion was strongly criticised by other CARICOM members.
Mr. Seaga says Dame Eugenia was a strong anti-Communist who stood up against the social disorder in her country during the 1970s.
"She was not of the same order as other political leaders in the Caribbean," he said. "When she became Prime Minister it gave her a platform to speak strongly against Communism in the region."
Mr. Seaga says he remained friends with Dame Eugenia after his Jamaica Labour Party lost general elections in 1989. However, he says it had been some time since he heard from, or saw her.
A graduate of the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics, Dame Eugenia was an established lawyer before entering politics.
