PM Mottley pays tribute to late agronomist

Prime Minister, Mia Mottley has paid tribute to the late Agronomist, Dr Frances Chandler, who passed away earlier today, describing 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.

Dr Chandler began her working career at the Ministry of Agriculture and also worked at the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development institute, (CARDI) for almost three decades, before starting her own consulting business where she worked to increase the efficiency of the persons involved in the production, marketing and distribution of food. Her work in the development of an onion industry for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean has been widely recognised.

During her lifetime, Dr Chandler recognized the importance of service to her country and on a national level she served as an Independent Senator from 2003 to 2013, where she represented the interests of the agricultural sector with vigour and enthusiasm. She also volunteered her time to many projects aimed at exposing young people to the agricultural field, notably the successful Governor General’s Camp which she coordinated on behalf of the late former Governor General, Sir Clifford Husbands.

Her love for her country and fervent belief in agriculture were also evident in the several publications she authored and co-authored and in the weekly newspaper articles she contributed as a columnist in the Nation Newspaper for several years.

In addition to her stellar contribution in the field of agriculture, she was an advocate for good governance and her views on these matters remained the same, irrespective of her audience.

Dr Chandler was awarded the Honour of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to agriculture and sustainable development in the New Year honours, 2019.

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.”

Barbados Today

Barbados Today is the leading news service in Barbados. Founded in January 2010, with the mission to keep you informed, we aim to share news on matters of national interest, raise the level of public debate and help our readers make informed decisions in their daily lives. We do this by building confidence in our content through consistency. We strive for accuracy, accountability and maturity in our reporting at all times.

View Comments

Recent Posts

Quiet restart at Frederick Smith

The atmosphere at the Frederick Smith Secondary School was reportedly “very sombre” as dozens of teachers and students, for the…

8 hours ago

PM unveils personal ‘Vision 2030s’

As the Government prepares to unveil its Vision 2020, Prime Minister  Mia Mottley revealed a personal vision for a Barbados…

8 hours ago

Brexit ‘could yield farm work bounty’

Brexit - Britain’s impending withdrawal from the European Union - could present the possibility of a farm labour programme of…

8 hours ago

UWI, Government agree public service training initiative

The Government and the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill have signed an agreement to improve the training…

8 hours ago

‘We need workers’ – Home Affairs Minister

With retirement and death rates taking more workers out of the labour force than birth rates can replace them, Government…

8 hours ago

Hazmat scare closes Springer Memorial

Springer Memorial Secondary School will be closed Friday to clean up toxic chemicals that leaked while in storage, apparently sickening…

8 hours ago