ROSEAU, Dominica: Dame Eugenia Charles, the Caribbean's first female Prime Minister was buried on Wednesday in Pointe Michel, a southern town in Dominica, where she was born 86 years ago. Dame Eugenia, labelled the “iron lady” for her firm and decisive leadership of Dominica from 1980, got her wish for a private funeral despite the attendance of government officials, local and overseas dignitaries. Presiding over the church service on Wednesday, Fr Eustace Thomas told the gathering, which included past and present MPs, that they should emulate the political life of the former leader. “Emulate the Dame as a politician who was outspoken, who was clean, who was honourable, who was dedicated to politics, who was not corrupt, in fact, who hated corruption,” he said to a loud “Amen”. The outspoken Catholic priest compared her to the world’s best leaders, adding that she dedicated her life to its cause. “She feared not only for Dominica but for the entire world, especially for the region. Dame Eugenia could match any other leader in the world, they know it,” he said. Fr Thomas used the two-hour long service to urge the country's leaders to imitate Dame Eugenia, saying she left an indelible mark in the 20th century through her leadership skills. “She invites us to imitate her. This is why she will be one of the major names in the 20th century, having created an indelible mark through her leadership skills,” he said. He added that apart from several “firsts” Dame Eugenia was a religious person who practised her Catholic faith. “I’m not canonising Ms Charles, she was not the best but not the worse. She was a Catholic who practised her faith,” he said There was no eulogy in keeping with her funeral wishes but a variety of songs were rendered by a choir and soloists, including a saxophone solo from a veteran musician. Among those laying wreaths were President of Dominica Dr Nicholas Liverpool and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, a former youth member of the Dominica Freedom Party which was headed by Dame Eugenia from 1968 to 1995. Here amidst the large audience paying their final respects were former Prime Ministers John Compton (St Lucia) and James Mitchell (St Vincent and the Grenadines), and West Indies Cricket Board President Ken Gordon. Dame Mary Eugenia Charles (May 15, 1919 to September 6, 2005) was buried in the same tomb with her parents in Pointe Mitchel, three miles south of the capital, Roseau. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com