Her Excellency Mrs. Sylvanie Burton D.A. H at formal Oath of Office administered by Her Ladyship, the Hon. Justice Jacqueline Josiah-Graham, Resident High Court Judge.
Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton D.A.H. (58) President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, delivered her first inaugural address as Head of State at The State House Conference Center following the swearing-in ceremony on October 2, 2023.
Amid inclement weather pushed in from the effects of Tropical Storm Philippe passing northeast of the region, and the strains of the brass section of the Government Band blowing a peal of trumpets through the spacious State House Conference Center, as the fanfare signaled the arrival of the President-elect to take the formal Oath of Office, administered by Her Ladyship, the Hon. Justice Jacqueline Josiah-Graham, Resident High Court Judge.
“I Sylvanie Burton do swear, that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, without fear or favor, affection or ill-will, and that in the execution of the functions of that Office I will honor, uphold, and preserve the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica. So help me God!”
Her Excellency President Sylvanie Burton D.A. H
Mrs. Burton was accompanied by her husband dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and creole-themed tie, while Mrs. Burton wore a resplendent Wob Dwiyèt and matching headpiece for the occasion.
Historic speech
The newly- installed Dominican Head of State included in her remarks that the Parliamnent’s decision to appoint her as President of Dominica was “historic, monumental and consequential for all of us as a nation,” she said adding, “My joy is however tempered by the enormity of this moment in the history of our country.”
(Above) INAUGURAL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT SYLVANIE BURTON
President Burton referenced the support of her husband, children, government colleges, friends, the Kalinago Community, and her deceased parents by whom she was nurtured growing up, and asked the nation of Dominica to pray for her as she embarked on her Presidential career to continue unifying our country.” Among her concerns, she cited affecting Dominica are: part of a warming planet; global economic instability; challenges to the rule of law; the rise of artificial intelligence, and a deepening divide of our people.”
Call to action
Her Excellency issued a call to action to Dominicans, “I am conscious of the fact,” she said, “that as a Small Island Developing State, we must be visionary, we must be agile, innovative, and bold as we chart our course in The World,” she said, adding “to this end we must use all the tools at our disposal, particularly our human resources both here and in the diaspora, to find solutions to the challenges that we face as a nation. With this in mind, I urge our Government to continue to build on the extraordinary promise to make this island the first climate-resilient country in the world.”
Her Excellency Mrs. Sylvanie Burton D.A.H. President of the Commonwealth of Dominica as she delivered her inaugural address as Head of State
“I am confident that you will serve our Beloved country with pride and distinction and embrace the responsibility to promote a spirit of unity and harmony among all Dominicans.”
Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Roosvelt Skerrit
Prime Minister Skerrit
Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Honourable Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit (51) in his remarks at the Ceremony assured H.E. President Burton, saying, “I pledge to you my support, and that of the Party and Government that I lead. I want to say to you, that I may not see you through the end of your term, but, you can rest assured of my very best wishes in whatever capacity I serve from this day forward. I am confident that you will serve our Beloved country with pride and distinction and embrace the responsibility to promote a spirit of unity and harmony among all Dominicans,” he said.
“I take this opportunity,” he added, “to also welcome your husband, and children, to this new life of National Duty, and service to the people of Dominica, and to wish them God’s Guidance and Blessings. Friends, countrymen, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, I remind you, this day belongs to The Lord, let’s celebrate and be glad today. This is the day that the Lord has made Let all rejoice and be glad in it. Your Excellency congratulations to you. I will pray for long life and success to you in your journey in this distinguished Office as President of Dominica. God bless you and God bless Dominica.”
10th president
Mrs Burton on Monday became Dominica’s 10th President, the first female, and the first person of Kalinago ancestry to serve in the highest Office of the land.
This historic event signals a new day for the Commonwealth of Dominica in reversing the trend of colonialism that robbed the Caribbean’s first people of their islands across the Caribbean territory.
This single action taken by the Hon. Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit-led administration is a massive step in righting the wrongs committed against our indigenous peoples and is more than a token at the beginning of this fight for reparations and restitution due to the Kalinago people.
For our part, my wife and I join all Dominicans at home and abroad in extending our sincere congratulations to Her Excellency Mrs. Sylvanie Burton, her family, the Kalinago Territory, the Government, and the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica on this very august and historic occasion.
Nomination
Mrs. Burton was elected by 20 members of the House Assembly at the conclusion of the constitutional process proscribed in Paragraph (2) under section 22 of the Constitution during the Fifth Meeting of The First Session of The Eleventh Parliament on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
Mrs. Burton has had a long career in public service, serving as Permanent Secretary in various Ministries and as a Development Officer in the Ministry of Kalinago Affairs. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Rural Development and is known for her activism on behalf of the indigenous people.
Dominica Award of Honour
President Burton follows President Charles Savarin DAH (80) who served two five-year terms, assuming office on October 2, 2013. He demitted office on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Like her predecessor, the Dominica Award of Honour (D.A. H) was conferred on President-elect, Sylvanie Burton D.A.H on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
References
[Screenshot] credit: GIS Dominica
Charles Savarin (2023) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Savarin (Accessed: 3 October 2023).
Read the entire Inaugural Speech of President Sylvanie Burton (PDF, 560 KB). Available at: https://presidentoffice.gov.dm/…/inaugural_speech_of… Posted: 05/10/2023
Office of the President. Available at: https://presidentoffice.gov.dm/ (Accessed: 6 October 2023).
ALBERT WILLIAMS Reporting 
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