Well known agriculturalist and public commentator Dr Frances Chandler is dead.
The former Independent Senator passed away at her home in Fort George Heights, St Michael, yesterday morning. She was 72.
She was first diagnosed with cancer in 2001, but had fought valiantly over the years, and never allowed it to keep her down.
Chandler, an Independent senator from 2003 to 2013, was a driving force behind local agriculture and its critical importance to Barbados’ development.
An agronomist since 1969, she worked for the Ministry of Agriculture for ten years, and later at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) for nearly three decades, before setting up her own business, where she was consultant to many of this island’s leading farmers.
She was also organiser of the annual Agricultural Summer Camp for children, an initiative she established in 2005 on the urging of then Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands.
Chandler was a prolific writer on national issues, and often submitted guest columns to NATION publications, before having her own weekly column in the Midweek Nation entitled For What It’s Worth, from May 2013. Her last column, published on February 13, urged her fellow Barbadians to Nip Illegal Actions In The Bud.
Her brother-in-law, farmer and Weekend Nation columnist Richard Lowdown Hoad, said yesterday: “The column opened a new vista for her to communicate with fellow Barbadians and perhaps suggest how we could do things better.” He added: “She enjoyed it immensely. In her last days staying down by me she was only able to write maybe two paragraphs before resting. Yet she soldiered on, commenting, ‘People look forward to the column’, which was true.”
First cousin Maurice Burke said last night: “In reality you could say Frances lived about 144 years, when you consider how much she could achieve in any day compared to the rest of us.”
Chandler, an unapologetic royalist, was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2012 for her services to agriculture. She was recently elevated to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours 2019 for her contribution to agriculture and sustainable development.
In paying tribute, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley described her as an outstanding agronomist.
“It is with shock and sadness that I learnt of the passing of Dr Frances Chandler. She was a distinguished daughter of the soil who displayed a singular passion for her chosen field of endeavour, agriculture, and made it her life’s work to educate her fellow citizens on the importance of improving food production and increasing food security,” Mottley said in a statement.
Cared about the future
“She will be remembered as a patriotic Barbadian who cared about the future of her native land, and a fearless and persistent voice that promoted local agriculture. May she rest in peace.”
Historian Dr Karl Watson also posted a tribute on Facebook.
“Frances over the years made a sterling contribution to our national debate and had solid suggestions/solutions to offer. Like so many others who are prepared to speak out, she was often sidelined. Yet she persisted as she was fully committed to Barbados.
“I will miss our frequent chats in Big B. We covered every conceivable topic. Not once in the last couple of years did I ever hear her voice a complaint about her medical condition. She just soldiered on. Rest now, dear one,” Watson wrote.
Chandler leaves to mourn brother Paddy Roach and sister Wendy Hoad. (BW)
at age 72. (FP)
Dr Frances Chandler passed away yesterday
