Independence and the National Question - Dominica Academy of ...

attorney Cecile Rawle whose bust sits atop a plinth at the top of Federation
Drive, became notable leaders in the early fight for self government.
Dominica’s first Chief Minister, Franklin Baron, presided over an
administration which brought some progress in the manner that local
representation should: there was the completion of the Imperial Road linking
Marigot to Roseau in 1956; the start of the Melville Hall Airport project in
1958 and the new Dominica Grammar School building was conceived in
1960—among other projects. However, the island’s first political party, the
Dominica Labour Party (DLP) formed by E.C. Loblack and Phyllis Shand
Allfrey in 1956, arose because they felt that enough was not being done to
serve the majority population. That majority population was overwhelmingly
peasant and working class; still restricted in ownership of land, access to
proper health care, and education. Further, because slavery had limited the
ability of the descendants of poor Dominicans to acquire land, there was
little trans-generational transfer of wealth. That meant if their parents were
squatters, and labourers, so too were their children. Many Dominicans,
groaning under the weight of that oppressive colonial system were forced to
flee to other countries, to escape perpetual poverty: Curacao, Aruba, Cuba,
U.S. Virgin Islands, Britain or the U.S.A. being among some of their
destinations. Of those who remained, some decided to fight for change, and
found a place in the Dominica Labour Party.
Some of the founders of the DLP had been members of Dominica’s first
trade union, The Dominica Trade Union (DTU) which was formed in 1945.
Having such a base, they believed in the working people having a living
wage; and peasants being able to own the land upon which they worked.
Most importantly the party believed in self government for Dominica; i.e.
independence. In 1961 Edward Oliver LeBlanc led the DLP to a sweeping
victory over the Dominica United Party (DUPP) led by Baron. LeBlanc’s
administration laid the basis for many of the progressive changes we see
today: new high schools such as the Portsmouth Secondary School; the
Clifton Dupigny Technical College—now the site of the Dominica State
College; feeder roads connecting mostly all villages; better primary schools;
more high school scholarships and a new Dominica Grammar School and
Technical Wing; social security; our own National Commercial &
Development Bank; the new Ministry building; the Deep Water Harbour
project; and the many housing schemes which came later. An exponent of
literacy he promoted legislation which in the words of former Commissioner
of Police, O.N. Phillip “… LeBlanc made it mandatory for children to attend
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