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.
who was the second female prime minister of a caribbean country
Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, DBE