Edward Oliver LeBlanc

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Edward Oliver LeBlanc
1st Premier of Dominica
In office
1 March 1967 – 27 July 1974
DeputyNicholson Ducreay
Ronald Armour
Succeeded byPatrick John
Chief Minister of Dominica
In office
21 January 1961 – 1 March 1967
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byFrank Baron
Personal details
Born(1923-10-03)3 October 1923
Vieille Case, Dominica
Died29 October 2004(2004-10-29) (aged 81)
Vieille Case, Dominica
Political partyDominica Labour Party
Spouse
Ethel Patrick
​
(m. 1949)​

Edward Oliver LeBlanc (3 October 1923 – 29 October 2004) was a Dominican politician. He served as the chief minister of Dominica from January 1961 to 1 March 1967 and as the first premier of Dominica from 1 March 1967 to 27 July 1974.

Early life[edit]

LeBlanc was born on 3 October 1923 in Vieille Case, a village on the north coast of Dominica.[1][2] He attended the local government school and then studied agriculture at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (now part of the University of the West Indies) in Trinidad, graduating in 1944. He joined the civil service in Dominica, working as an agricultural instructor, and then began working for the Dominica Banana Growers Association. In 1949, he married his wife Ethel and the couple had five children: Ewart, Erin, Einstar, Earlsworth and Eustace.[2]

Political career[edit]

LeBlanc joined the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) in 1957, which had been established on 24 May 1955 by Emmanuel Christopher Loblack and Phyllis Shand Allfrey.[1][3] He was elected to the Legislative Council in the 1957 general election but when Dominica joined the nascent West Indies Federation the following year, LeBlanc resigned from the Legislative Council. He was elected alongside Allfrey in the 1958 federal elections to represent Dominica in the federation's legislative body, the Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation.[2][4] The federation – composed of ten member states, including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the former members of the Windward Islands – was intended to strength relationships in the region and was considered by some politicians to be a step towards independence. The union was shortlived and the federation dissolved in 1962.[4]

Inauguration of the West Indies Federation in 1958

LeBlanc returned to Dominica in 1960 after resigning from the Federal Parliament. In the 1961 general election, he won a seat in the Legislative Council as the leader of the DLP on 17 January 1967.[2][5][6] The DLP was challenged in the election by the Dominica United People's Party (DUPP), which had been founded by R. H. Lockhart and Frank Baron the same year.[6] The DLP won 47.5% of the vote and 7 seats in the legislature, with the DUPP winning 25.6% of the vote and 4 seats.[7] This was the party's first electoral victory and LeBlanc was sworn in as the chief minister and minister of finance.[2]

Chief minister (1961 – 1967)[edit]

In 1960, LeBlanc helped to promote the country's National Day as a cultural festival, with dance, music and art contests. This focus on cultural nationalism was crucial to LeBlanc's legacy.[8]

Premiership (1967 – 1974)[edit]

In March 1967, when the British granted Dominica associated statehood, LeBlanc became the premier.[9] LeBlanc tried to implement socialist policies in Dominica. He was committed to helping poor workers, whom he called "little men", a catchphrase that still remains in Dominican politics.[1] He was very popular with voters, winning three elections in three different constituencies, and is believed by many to be one of the founders of the Dominican nation.[citation needed]

LeBlanc stepped down as the DLP leader in July 1974. He then resigned his position as premier and his seat in the House of Assembly by sending a letter of resignation to the governor Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue two weeks later, on 27 July 1974.[10] Patrick John, who had won a party convention to replace LeBlanc as party leader, was sworn in as premier two days later.[11] LeBlanc did not explain his retirement and refused to give interviews, but it is believed that he was tired of the opposition to his policies by many in the government.[citation needed]

Death and legacy[edit]

He returned to Vieille Case, where he died on 29 October 2004.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Edward Oliver Le Blanc". Division of Culture. Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Honychurch, Lennox (18 December 2004). "Edward Le Blanc". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  3. ^ Honychurch, Lennox (1 July 2017). "Short overview of the political life of Nicholson A.N. Ducreay". Dominica News Online. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b Nohlen 2005, p. 224.
  5. ^ a b "Edward Leblanc, 81; Led Dominica Toward Independence". Los Angeles Times. 31 October 2004. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b Nohlen 2005, p. 225.
  7. ^ Nohlen 2005, pp. 232, 234.
  8. ^ Honychurch 1995, p. 205.
  9. ^ "E.O. Leblanc described as an exemplary leader". Dominica News Online. 29 October 2014.
  10. ^ "World News Briefs". The New York Times. 28 July 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  11. ^ "New Premier Is Sworn In On Dominica in West Indies". The New York Times. 29 July 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

Sources[edit]

Preceded by Chief Minister of Dominica
1961–1967 		Succeeded by
Himself as Premier
Preceded by
Himself as Chief Minister
 Premier of Dominica
1 March 1967 – 27 July 1974 		Succeeded by
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