1967-72 Governor Dr. Dame Hilda Louisa Bynoe, Grenada (British Dependency)

A former doctor and Hospital Administrator she is so far the only woman to have been governor of one of the British Dependencies. (b. 1921).

1971-74 De-facto Ruler Simone Ovide Duvalier inHaiti

Known as "Mama Doc", she was widow of dictator Dr. François Duvalier ("Papa Doc"), President 1957-71, who was succeeded by their son, Jean-Claude Duvalier ("Baby Doc") who showed little interest in the government. She remained very powerful till he was ousted in 1986. Mrs. Duvalier was reported to be a voodoo adept, and inspired dread among Haiti's poor and illiterate masses. She lived (circa 1913-97).

1977 Minister President Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws, The Netherlands Antilles (Dutch External Territory)

Minister of Health and Environment, Welfare, Youth, Sports, Culture and Recreation 1970-77 and in 1977 Minister Presidente and Minister of General Affairs. She was also Vice-President of The Nationale Volkspartij 1971-76 and around 1995 Member of the Raad van Advies, the Council of Advisors. She is the widow of Dr. M.F. da Costa Gomez (1907-66), Premier of the state 1951-54.  (b.5.4.29-).

1979 Acting Governor General Dr. Dame Doris Louise Johnson, Bahamas

1968-69 Minister without Portfolio and Leader of the Government in the Senate 1968-69, Minister of Transport 1969-72. As Speaker of the Senate 1973-83 she was Deputy the Governor and at least on one occasion Acting Governor-General during the absence of the office-holder. She lived (1921-83).

1980-95 Prime Minister Dame Eugenia Charles, Dominica

When the Dominica Labour Party attempted to limit dissent with a sedition act in 1968, Charles became involved in politics. In 1970, she was appointed to the legislature and in 1975, to the house of assembly, where she became the leader of the opposition. She co-founded the Dominica Freedom Party. As Prime minister she immediately began programs of economic reform and to end government corruption. She is a strict constitutionalist and her colleagues consider her a brilliant lawyer and a savvy politician. In 1983, Charles encouraged the U.S. invasion of Grenada to prevent Cuban infiltration of that island. Her primary concern was to improve the lives of the citizens. She encouraged tourism to a small degree, but was determined to preserve the island's ecology and national identity. During her tenure as Prime Minister she was also Minister of External Affairs, Finance, Trade and Industry, Defence, Minister of Information and Public Relations. She lived (1916-2005).

1980-86 Politically Influential Michéle Bennett Duvalier in Haiti

Often exercised political control, issuing orders and attending cabinet meetings because she was frustrated by the ineptness of her husband, President-for-life Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Doc).  In 1986 the couple was forced into exile and she later left him. 

Commissioner of Belize City 1970-77, before becoming the official representative of the Queen of Belize, Queen Elizabeth. (b. 1930-).

1982-85 President of the Conseil General 
1983 President of Conseil Regional
1991-2004 President of the Conseil General Luchette Michaux-Chevry, Guadalupe (French External Territory)

Beside from her position as chief of government, she has also held posts in the French government,  1986-87 Secretary of State and 1993-95 Minister Delegate of Foreign Affairs in the French Government, 1987-95 Maire de Gourbreyre, and from 1995 Mayoress de Basse-Terre (b. 1929-).

1984-86 and 1988-93 Minister President Maria Ph. Liberia-Peters, Nederlandse Antillen (Dutch External Territory)

Health Councillor 1977-78 and Lieutenant-Governor of Curaçau 1982. Minister of Economy 1982-83 and 1984-86 also, Minister of General Affairs and the Interior, Health and Environment. She resigned as Premier after she had lost a referendum on the autonomy of Curaçau. She was also Chairperson of the Nationale Volkspartij/Partido Nashional de Peuplo (PNP) 1984-98 and 2002-04. (b. 1941-).

1985-91 2nd. Vice-President and 2nd. Deputy Prime Minister Viola Harper Burnham, Guyana

As Deputy Head of State and the Government, she was in charge of Social Development. She was the widow of President Burnham who died 1985. She lived (1930-2003).

1990-91 Acting President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, Haiti 

She was head of national and international nurse organizations before becoming Ambassador to the UN, Cuba and the Dominican Republic 1986-90. She was the sister of Errol W. Barrow (1920-87), Prime Minister 1966-76 and 1986-87. She died in office as the official representative of Queen Elizabeth, and lived (1916-95).

1993 and 1998-99 Minister President Mr. Suzanne Camelia-Römer, Nederlandse Antillen (Dutch External Territory)

Suzi Römer had been Minister of Justice since 1992 when she became acting Premier after the resignation of Mrs. Liberia-Peters. 1999-2002 Vice-Premier and Minister of Economy and the National Recovery Plan, and 1998-2002 Leader of the Partido Nashional di Pueplo (b. 1959). 

1994- Foreign Minister Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, Barbados

Labour MP from 1976 and holder of various portfolios, among others as Deputy Premier 1994-2003. Later awarded with the title of Dame. (b. 1944-).

An economist she became Minister of Social Affairs 1990-91, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1993-95 and was Executive Director of the Washington Office of Haiti 1993, before becoming head of the government. Later an UN official. (b. 1946-). 

1995-2002 Foreign Minister Janet Bostwick, Bahamas

The first female MP 1977-2002. 1992-94 Minister of Housing and Labour,  1994-95 Minister of Justice and Immigration, 1995-2001 Attorney General. 1998 she was the first woman to act as Prime Minister during the absence from the country of both the Premier and his deputy, and later acted on various other occasions. She is married to The Hon. John Bostwick the President of the Senate 1992-2002, they have 3 children. (b. 1939-).

Calliopa Pearlette Louisy was civil servant, before becoming the official representative of Queen Elizabeth. (b. 1946-)

1997-98 Premier Pamela Felicity Gordon, Bermuda (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)

Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development, Culture and Youth 1992, Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation 1992-96, Environment, Planning and National Resources 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister of Information and Attorney General. She was former Deputy Chairperson and was elected to succeed the previous Premier after his resignation. She was Leader of the United Bermuda Party 1997-2001 and leader of the Opposition 1998-2001.  (b. 1955-).

1997-2005 Chief Secretary Cynthia Astwood, Turk and Caicos Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
2002 Acting Governor (26.11-16.12)

Member of the Executive Council, ranking below the Governor and has acted as such on various occasions when the incumbent was abroad. In 2002 she filled the gap between two governors.

1998-2003 Premier Jennifer Meridith Smith, Bermuda (United Kingdom Dependency)

Deputy Opposition Leader 1994-96, Opposition Leader 1996-98 as Leader of the Progressive Labour Party, PLP. As Premier she also held the Portfolios of Education and Human Affairs. She was ousted by her own party just three days after she led it to an historic General Election victory. (b. circa 1948-).

2000-05 Foreign Minister Maria Elisabeth Levens, Suriname

Trained teacher and former head of various bureaus within the Ministry of Education and Community Development and Policy Advisor to the Minister of Education. Also chair or member of several commissions, from 1975 Secretary of the Progressive Women’s Union and Chairperson of the Forum of NGO’s in Suriname 1991-2000.  (b. 1950-).

2001-05 Governor General Dr. Dame Ivy Leona Dumont, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas

2003-04 Minister-President Mirna Louisa-Godett, Nederlandse Antillen (External Territory of The Netherlands)

Sister of the Leader of Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di Mei (FOL) Anthony Godett, who could not become Premier because he was charged with and later convicted for corruption and fraud. Married to a member of the Legislature for FOL, Johnny Louisa. She became head of a coalition government, which did not last long. (b. 1954-).

2005 Acting Prime Minister Cynthia A. Pratt, Bahamas (03.05-22.06)

Became Acting Prime Minister when the incumbent suffered a minor stroke, but has acted on a number of occasions before, when he was abroad. She is also known as "Mother" Pratt. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Security 2002-07 she was in charge of the Defence Force and Police. She was Opposition Whip Circa 1992-2000 and from circa 2000 Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Progressive Liberal Democratic Part. A former nurse, she is mother of 6 children (b. 1945-).

2005- Chief Secretary Mahala Wynns, Turk and Caicos Islands (Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
2005 Acting Governor

Acting Governor 21.06-11.07 in the period until a new governor was inaugurated after his predecessor left. As Chief Secretary she is member of the Executive Committee.

2005-09 Foreign Minister Condoleezza Rice, United States of America

Director of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council 1989-93. Professor of International Affairs of Stanford University. 2001-05 Cabinet Member and National Security Advisor before becoming Secretary of State (Foreign Minister). (b. 1954-)

2006-07 and 2012- Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica

Since 1976 MP, 1976-82 Parliamentary Secretary of the Prime Minister, Deputy President of People's National Party 1978-2006 and President from 2006. Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Sports 1989-2000, Candidate for the party leadership and Premiership in 1992, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment, Sports and Women’s Affairs 2000-02 and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport from 2002. Acting Prime Minister on various occasions whenever the chief of government was out of the country. (b. 1946-).

Homepage