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| Volume No. 1 Issue No. 37 - Saturday February 15, 2003 |
 PM Charles Undergoes Successful Heart Operation
 by Thomson Fontaine
Prime Minister of Dominica Pierre Charles was said to be doing well by doctors after a successful heart operation in a Trinidad hospital. Doctors performed a coronary angioplasty, which involved fixing a narrowed coronary artery in the heart.
The Prime Minister is expected to make a full recovery and will return to Dominica for a few weeks of rest before resuming his official duties. Freedom Party Leader Charles Sevarin continues to act as Prime Minister in his absence.
The Prime Minister was hospitalized on Thursday 13 February at the Intensive Care Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope, after experiencing chest pains.
The incoming Chairman of the CARICOM Heads of State was in Trinidad to address the opening ceremony for the 14th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom.
Charles was a feature speaker at the cultural show for Caricom Heads at the University of the West Indies Learning Resource Centre, St Augustine on Thursday night. It was while watching a performance by the Guyana National Dance Company that he began feeling unwell.
Charles was assisted to a waiting car by a security officer. Prime Minister Patrick Manning, the host of the function, escorted Charles to the car. His hospitalization prevented him from addressing the opening session on Friday.
In his absence, the speech was delivered by his deputy, Foreign Minister Osborne Riviere. He was also scheduled to close the event by lighting the Caricom Torch of Unity, but Prime Minister Patrick Manning filled this role, presenting the torch to an athlete for the start of the run.
The Prime Minister of Dominica officially took over the position of Chairman from Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo. He expressed through his deputy, the hope that the Caribbean Court of Justice would come to fruition during his tenure.
In May of last year, Prime Minister Charles underwent medical treatment in Martinique (see story) after falling ill in Dominica. He assumed the leadership role of the Dominica Labor Party and Prime Minister of Dominica on the sudden death of Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglas in October of 2000.
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