▁of ▁Domin ica ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁Member ▁of ▁Parliament ▁for ▁Grand ▁Bay , ▁Domin ica ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁until ▁his ▁death . ▁ ▁Biography ▁Charles ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Grand ▁Bay ▁in ▁Saint ▁Patrick ▁parish . ▁He ▁began ▁his ▁high - school ▁education ▁at ▁the ▁Domin ica ▁Gram mar ▁School ▁and ▁completed ▁it ▁at ▁the ▁St . ▁Mary ' s ▁Academy ▁before ▁purs uing ▁studies ▁at ▁the ▁local ▁teachers ' ▁college . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁teacher ▁and ▁community ▁organ izer ▁before ▁entering ▁elect ive ▁office . ▁ ▁He ▁became ▁ill ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁and ▁had ▁ang iop last y ▁surg ery . ▁Conc ern s ▁about ▁his ▁health ▁led ▁to ▁calls ▁for ▁him ▁to ▁step ▁down . ▁However , ▁he ▁continued ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁prime ▁minister ▁until ▁his ▁death , ▁which ▁occurred ▁during ▁a ▁medical ▁leave ▁of ▁absence . ▁Os bor ne ▁R ivi ere ▁acted ▁as ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁in ▁Charles ' ▁stead . ▁However , ▁upon ▁return ▁from ▁his ▁medical ▁leave ▁of ▁absence , ▁Charles ▁succ um bed ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 4 9 ▁to ▁a ▁heart ▁attack ▁while ▁being ▁driven ▁home ▁from ▁a ▁Cab inet ▁meeting . ▁ ▁Political ▁asc end ancy ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 2 5 , ▁Charles ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁Senator ▁in ▁Domin ica ’ s ▁Parliament . ▁In ▁the ▁general ▁elections ▁of ▁ 1 9 8 5