ROSEAU, Dominica - Former schoolteacher Pierre Charles was sworn in as prime minister of the small Caribbean island of Dominica on Tuesday, replacing Roosevelt Douglas, who died of an apparent heart attack.
Charles, 46, deputy head of Douglas' Dominica Labor Party, was sworn in by President Vernon Shaw. Charles promised to continue efforts to diversify Dominica's sluggish economy, which relies heavily on banana exports and tourism.
Douglas died at his home Sunday. The doctor who examined his body, Gregorio Monterrey, ruled out foul play and said he suspected a heart attack. An autopsy was planned for this week.
Charles becomes the country's sixth prime minister since its 1978 independence from Britain and its third this year. In January, Douglas unseated Edison James of the United Workers Party.
Charles owns a small banana farm and ran a produce export business from 1985 to 1988.
He served in Parliament as an appointed senator from 1979-80 and has held an elected seat for the Grand Bay district since 1985. He became deputy leader of the Dominica Labor Party in 1991 and served as minister for communications and public works under Douglas.
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