Patrick John

Colonel Patrick Roland John (born Roseau, 7 January 1938) was the Prime Minister of Dominica as well as the Premier of Dominica. During his premiership Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom and he became the first Prime Minister of Dominica. He was leader of the Waterfront and Allied Workers' Union and mayor of Roseau before being elected to the legislature in 1970. He took on prime ministerial duties in 1974 following the resignation of Edward Oliver LeBlanc. After mass protest forced him to resign, John unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Eugenia Charles with the backing of white supremacist groups (in what became dubbed "Operation Red Dog"). As a result, he was jailed for twelve years.

Following his release from prison, John, formerly a member of the Dominica national football team, became a local football administrator. In 1992 he was elected President of the Dominica Football Association (DFA). Under his leadership the DFA became a FIFA affiliate in 1994. He served as President until 2006, when he was voted out of office by the local football fraternity. In 2007 he was inducted into the CONCACAF Hall of Fame. In May 2008 he was re-elected as President of the DFA. The DFA administrative headquarters is named "Patrick John Football House" in honour of John. In November 2011, John was banned by FIFA from the sport for two years and fined $3,300, for his part in an alleged bribery scheme involving FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

External links

• Tull: Tell us about coup rumours, NationNews, 4 October 2006

Preceded by Edward Oliver LeBlanc	Premier of Dominica July 28, 1974 to November 2, 1978	Succeeded by Himself as Prime Minister
Preceded by Himself as Premier	Prime Minister of Dominica November 3, 1978 to June 21, 1979	Succeeded by Oliver Seraphin