<P> Dame Mary Eugenia Charles , DBE ( 15 May 1919 -- 6 September 2005 ) was a Dominican politician who was Prime Minister of Dominica from 21 July 1980 until 14 June 1995 . She was Dominica 's first , and to date only , female prime minister , as well as the nation 's longest - serving prime minister . She was the second female prime minister in the Caribbean after Lucina da Costa of the Netherlands Antilles , and the first woman elected in her own right as head of government in the Americas . She was the world 's third longest - serving female Prime Minister , behind Indira Gandhi of India and Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka , and the world 's longest continuously serving female Prime Minister ever . Charles was also Dominica 's first female lawyer . </P>
<P> Dame Mary Eugenia Charles , DBE ( 15 May 1919 -- 6 September 2005 ) was a Dominican politician who was Prime Minister of Dominica from 21 July 1980 until 14 June 1995 . She was Dominica 's first , and to date only , female prime minister , as well as the nation 's longest - serving prime minister . She was the second female prime minister in the Caribbean after Lucina da Costa of the Netherlands Antilles , and the first woman elected in her own right as head of government in the Americas . She was the world 's third longest - serving female Prime Minister , behind Indira Gandhi of India and Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka , and the world 's longest continuously serving female Prime Minister ever . Charles was also Dominica 's first female lawyer . </P>
who was the second female prime minister of a caribbean country
who was the second female prime minister of a caribbean country
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles , DBE
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles , DBE