Wesley Constituency

The Wesley Constituency is located in the northeast region of Dominica, within Saint Andrew Parish. It comprises the villages of Wesley, Woodford Hill, and Londonderry. The constituency plays a central role in national development planning due to its location near key infrastructure, including the Douglas-Charles Airport and the emerging International Airport Project.

Geographic Boundaries of the Wesley Constituency

• North: Bordered by the ridgelines separating it from the Paix Bouche Constituency, particularly south of Calibishie. The boundary runs just near Mamelabou River.
• East: Faces the Atlantic Ocean, with a coastal stretch running from Woodford Hill Bay down to the Wesley coastline, offering sweeping views and maritime access.
• South: The boundary runs near Toulaman River and is demarcated by interior hills and forested terrain separating it from the Marigot Constituency.
• West: Defined by highland ridges that separate it from the Paix Bouche Constituency, particularly in areas northwest of Wesley and into the Northern Forest Reserve.

These geographic limits place the Wesley Constituency in Dominica’s northeastern zone, where coastal access, fertile valleys, and rising inland terrain converge to shape the region’s identity and strategic importance.

Political Representation

The constituency has been represented by Dominica Labour Party (DLP) members in recent years. As of the latest available information:

• 1975 – 1980, O.N. Theodore (Labour Party)
  Represented Wesley during Dominica’s independence transition. Known for advocating education and stability while laying the groundwork for post-1978 development across the northeast region.
• 1980 – 1985, Kenneth Williams (Dominica Freedom Party)
  Came in during the 1980 DFP wave. Williams focused on agricultural recovery and feeder road upgrades following Hurricane David, particularly in Wesley and Woodford Hill.
• 1985 – 1990, Robert Elford Henry (Dominica Freedom Party)
  Henry worked closely with rural communities to support farming, infrastructure, and youth engagement programmes, maintaining the DFP’s grassroots influence across the constituency.
• 1990 – 1995, Edgar W. B. Jerome (Dominica Freedom Party)
  Jerome emphasised education reform, constituency dialogue, and national budget involvement. He remained a steady parliamentary voice during the DFP’s latter governance period.
• 1995 – 2009, Peter Carbon (Dominica Labour Party)
  Carbon led a strong Labour return in Wesley, promoting housing, roads, and social programmes. Served three terms, gaining a reputation for consistent representation.
• 2009 – 2014, Gloria Marilyn Shillingford (Dominica Labour Party)
  An educator by profession, Shillingford prioritised school improvements, women’s advancement, and youth projects while holding a ministerial portfolio in the DLP government.
• 2014 – Present, Fidel Grant (Dominica Labour Party)
  Grant continues DLP leadership in Wesley with focus on housing schemes, road rehabilitation, and supporting small farmers through government agricultural expansion initiatives.

Electoral Details

The Wesley Constituency elects one representative to Dominica’s House of Assembly. It is divided into polling districts corresponding to the communities of Wesley, Woodford Hill, and rural outposts in between. As of the last voter registry update, the constituency had approximately 3,200 registered voters.

Historically, elections in Wesley see high turnout. The constituency has swung between the DLP, DFP, and UWP over the decades but has remained a Labour Party stronghold since the mid-2000s. It is considered politically active, with strong village-level organizing and grassroots participation during campaigns.

Development Priorities and Infrastructure

Wesley Constituency’s development is guided by priorities in transport, education, agriculture, and housing. The Wesley Primary School, Temple SDA Primary School, North East Comprehensive School (NECS) and Woodford Hill Primary School, and local clinics like the Woodford Hill Health Center and Wesley Health Center support basic service delivery. The North Eastern Funeral Association is located in the Constituency.

Religious diversity is seen in institutions such as the Wesley SDA Church, Woodford Hill SDA Church, Wesley Roman Catholic Church and the Wesley Pentecostal Church. Local governance under Dominica’s village council ordinance is provided by the Woodford Hill Village Council and Wesley Village Council. Recent projects include:

• Resurfacing and drainage improvements to feeder roads connecting farms to the Melville Hall – Portsmouth Road route.
• Coastal stabilization near Woodford Hill Bay to protect property and promote tourism access.
• Ongoing planning around the International Airport Development, which includes road realignment and land use consultations.
• Promotion of youth skill training and agro-processing cooperatives.

The constituency’s long-term outlook is tied to how successfully it can integrate traditional livelihoods with emerging opportunities linked to national infrastructure and tourism corridors.