Candidate for Roseau Valley Constituency

Norris Michael Charles was born in the scenic village of Morne Prosper. His parents were farmers as a result he developed an interest in Agricultural Production and Marketing at a very early stage of his life.

He attended the Morne Prosper Primary School and was one of the first boys of his village to attend the Dominica Grammar School. While at the Grammar School he participated in several youth activities. Norris obtained Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals from the Duke of Edinburgh award Scheme and he served as a scout and cadet.

After his graduation he was employed at the Citrus Plant and the Agricultural Marketing Board for over a decade. He later worked as a grapefruit Procurement Officer at the Dominica Agro Industries and then became the first Marketing Development Officer at the Dominica Export/Import Agency.

Recognizing his tremendous contribution in the field of Agricultural Marketing, Norris was called to manage the export operations of the Caribbean Agricultural Trading Company as Trading Manager.

When the OECS Agricultural Diversification Coordinating Unit established the Joint Regional Marketing Programme Norris was offered the position of Operations Manager.

Having acquired the expertise in the export of agricultural produce internationally, Norris later became a producer and exporter to the Region and the United Kingdom.

Norris attended many Workshops and Training Courses locally, regionally and internationally to equip him to perform diligently. He attended Courses in Agricultural Marketing and Post Harvest Technology at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and he pursued a course in Agriculture Production and Management Principles at California State University in Fresno.

In addition to his marketing Skills, Norris has been very active in community service. He served for many years on the Roseau Credit Union Credit Committee and as Treasurer and Secretary for Organization in the Dominica Amalgamated Workers Union. It was while on the executive Committee of the Union that he pursued a course at Oxford University in Industrial Relations and Economics.

In response to a call from the people of the Roseau Valley, In 1995 Norris was elected as the Parliament Representative and became the Minister of Trade and Marketing and later the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Marketing.

In his capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Norris Charles addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. He also was the head of Delegation at the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Summit in Gabon-Arica and a member of the United Nations Observer Mission to South Africa to monitor the General Election in 1998.  He served as vice president of the ACP-EU Joint Parliament Assembly and Chairman of the ACP Ministerial Working Group on Bananas. He was also a delegate to many Caricom and OECS Heads of Government Conferences.

Among the major achievements of his Ministry were, the increase in the export value of Non Banana Crops from $12.88 million in 1995 to $29.5 million in 1999 and he presented legislation to Parliament to establish the Bureau of Standards.

Some of his significant accomplishments in the Roseau Valley were:

• The construction of the tourist Facility at the Trafalgar Water Fall

• Formation of the Trafalgar, Shawford, Fond Canie  Village Council

• Construction of the Wotton Waven /Trafalgar Link Road

• Extension of the Water Supply and Electricity at Wotten Waven

• Construction of Tourist Facility at Middle Ham Falls and at the Fresh water Lake

• Financial Support to establish the Rainforest Aerial Tram

• Improvement of Cockrane  Playing Field and upgrading the village main Road.

• Rehabilitate the Morne Hill Road in Morne Prosper

• Construction of the Morne Prosper Health Center and

• The establishment of the Morne Prosper Village Council.

Hon. Norris Charles wishes to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the people of the Roseau Valley for placing their confidence in him as their Parliamentary Representative who has been tested and trusted.

He is looking forward for your continued support to complete all the plans which the people of the Valley have identified to provide jobs and prosperity in a sustainable Clean and Green Environment.