He started working as a civil servant in Dominica from 1936. From 1958 to 1960 he undertook an international public service course in
Oxford University. On returning to Dominica he resumed his governmental career, acting on various occasions as first Secretary to the Cabinet and substitute to the President. The
House of Assembly of Dominica elected him as
President of Dominica in 1983, and he was sworn in during October of that year. Re-elected to the presidency in 1988, he resigned in 1993. In the
1966 New Year Honours,
Queen Elizabeth II appointed him an Officer of the
Order of the British Empire (OBE) and in 1985 he was
knighted with the Grand Cross of the
Order of the Bath. He was also
Knight of Malta since 1992. == Personal life ==