Sylvanie Burton
President of Dominica since 2023
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sylvanie Burton is a Dominican politician who has served as the president of Dominica since 2023, after being elected in the 2023 Dominican presidential election. She is the first woman and first Indigenous (Kalinago) president of Dominica.[1]
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Sylvanie Burton | |
|---|---|
Burton in 2025 | |
| 9th President of Dominica | |
| Assumed office 2 October 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Roosevelt Skerrit |
| Preceded by | Charles Savarin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Salybia, Kalinago Territory, Dominica |
| Party | Dominica Labour Party |
| External image | |
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 Sylvanie Burton with the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Sustainable Energy, 3–4 June 2019, London |
Early life
Sylvanie Burtonw as born in the village of Crayfish River. She is a member of the Kalinago people.[2] She holds a bachelor's degree in rural development and a master's degree in project management.[3]
Career
Brown has served as a justice of the peace and village council clerk.[2]
Burton has served as permanent secretary in various ministries since 2014, within the ministries of Community Development, Environment, Rural Modernization, Kalinago Upliftment, and Constituency Empowerment, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Youth and Social Services. Burton has also previously held the position of Development Officer in the Ministry of Kalinago Affairs.[4]
Burton was nominated by the DLP government led by Roosevelt Skerrit to succeed outgoing president Charles Savarin. Her nomination was rejected by the leader of the opposition, Jesma Paul Victor, leading to an election within parliament against the opposition's nominee.[5]
Burton's first overseas trip as president was to Guadeloupe in December 2023.[6]
Personal life
Burton is a member of the Catholic Church. She married Gilbert Burton,[2] with whom she had two children.[7] She was 58 years old in August 2023[4] or born in 1956.[8] She has a master's degree in project management[4] from the University of Manchester, England,[8] and a bachelor's degree in rural development[4] from the St. Francis Xavier University, Canada.[8]