Ralph Stanley Fadelle

Ralph Stanley Fadelle was a prominent Dominican public servant, entrepreneur, and parliamentarian affiliated with the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP). Born in Bagatelle on 24 January 1924, he played a pivotal role in the island’s post-colonial governance and agricultural development. His political career spanned multiple decades, marked by notable contributions to national policymaking, rural advancement, and community engagement.

Political Career and Agricultural Contributions

Fadelle was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1970, where he represented the Southern Electoral District. With the abolition of that district in the constitutional reform of the 1970s, he later contested and won the Petite Savanne Constituency under the DFP in the 1980 general elections, and again in the 1985 elections, appearing on the ballot as Stanley Fadelle. His parliamentary tenure coincided with the formative years of Dominica’s independence, during which he served under Prime Minister Dame Mary Eugenia Charles. He remained an active MP until 1990.

Fadelle’s early professional path was grounded in agriculture. He trained at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture in Trinidad, graduating in 1946. Upon returning to Dominica, he established several key enterprises, including Stowe Estate, Stowe Poultry Farms Ltd, and the Stowe Seaside Resort. These ventures became notable within the southern part of the island for promoting rural employment, agro-business innovation, and eco-tourism before such terms gained widespread currency.

Public Engagement and National Recognition

In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Fadelle held leadership roles in multiple national organizations. He served as Chairman of the Dominica Agricultural Society, sat on the Board of the Dominica Banana Growers Association, and was among the island’s earliest advocates for structured farmer support programmes. He was a founding member and first president of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Dominica in 1959, and played a guiding role in the early formation of the Dominica Lions Club.

As a parliamentarian, Fadelle was an active member of the Public Accounts Committee and participated in numerous regional forums, including meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. His political contributions were consistently tied to Dominica’s efforts to modernise its agricultural base, improve rural infrastructure, and strengthen democratic institutions. His representation of Petite Savanne placed him at the heart of southeastern Dominica’s evolving economy and social needs.

Fadelle passed away on 7 October 2017. In recognition of his service, the Government of Dominica accorded him an official funeral and declared a national day of mourning. His death was widely marked across political and civic circles, where he was remembered for his humility, strategic mind, and commitment to public life. His legacy continues to be acknowledged in references to early post-independence governance and the regional development of Dominica’s south.