Dominica mourns death of former minister Julius Timothy

Dominica is mourning the loss of one of its most seasoned political figures, Julius Timothy, who passed away last Sunday after battling heart disease for several years.

Timothy, a respected businessman and public servant, was Dominica’s former Minister of Health and most recently served as the country’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Mexico. He had suffered a stroke in May 2013 and was airlifted to Martinique for treatment.

Armed with an MBA from the University of the West Indies, Timothy first made his mark in the private sector as president of the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce before stepping into politics.

He was a founding member of the United Workers’ Party (UWP) and served as its Deputy Leader from the party’s inception. During the UWP administration from 1995 to 2000, Timothy held the powerful portfolio of Minister of Finance, Industry, and Planning, and also served as Deputy Prime Minister.

Following a leadership rift within the UWP in 2005, Timothy crossed the floor to the Dominica Labour Party (DLP), where he continued his public service and was later appointed Minister of Health.

Tributes have been pouring in from across Dominica’s political and business communities, remembering Timothy as a principled leader, bridge-builder, and dedicated servant of national development.