Dominica News Online (DNO) has been informed that Dr. Henry Fagan, a plant pathologist who served the Windward Islands banana industry for many years, has died.
According to close family members, Dr Fagan died on Monday night, after becoming ill about two to three months ago. He was 76.
He worked in St. Lucia for many years as a former Crop Protection Officer of the Windward Islands Banana Association, WINBAN. Following his retirement, he returned to his native Dominica and resided at Check Hall for the past several years.
Just recently, from his sick bed, Dr. Fagan demonstrated his keen and sustained interest in the banana industry when he lamented in the media, that the authorities had not sought his advice as a crop protection expert to assist in dealing with the threat of Black Sigatoka disease about which he was quite knowledgeable.
Dr. Fagan is survived by his wife and two children including former Dominica Carnival Queen, Ms NCCU, Jacintha Fagan.
Might I also add as Henry’s granddaughter here in the UK – he has 3 beautiful children my mother and my two uncles who also loved him dearly rest in peace papa
take care of our mother in heaven x
All my sympathy goes out to my girl Jacintha. I know that you believe in the Lord, just trust Him to provide all the comfort that you would need.
Love U “VICTORIA”
I offer my sincere condolences to the wife and family of Dr. Fagan. He contributed tremendously to the banana industry in the Windward Islands, and in so doing to the economy and livelihoods of many small farmers across the region. He rendered invaluable service in the area of research and development on bananas that resulted in the resolution of many pest and disease problems and fruit quality related issues. He represented the region at various regional and international forums, with distinction. He set the foundation in preparing the Islands to face the challenge of Black sigatoka and Moko disease. I am sure he would have been saddened and most likely hurt by being excluded from contributing when the disease finally reached our shores. I cannot think of anyone in Dominica that would be more capable of orchestrating the best possible management strategy to handle the current Black sigatoka crisis. But this is water under the bridge, for he is no longer with us. I humbly suggest that the Government of Dominica bestow on Dr. Fagan a posthumous meritorious service award at the upcoming independence celebration, in recognition of his contribution to agriculture in Dominica and the Windward Islands.
that is what they do in Dominica, they never ask advice from their own people..it doesn’t matter what field it is..it’s a shame that we do not use our own experienced persons enough…sympathy to the family…
May his soul rest in peace, he has done well for himself and his country. God’s strength for the family.
Please accept my deepest sympathies Jasso…. Hope your September plans are still on. May God give you strength during this testing time.
my deepest condoleces to mr fagan family and friends may your sould rest in peace . from the langford, matthew ,leblance and the community of morne jaune
Saints of God, come to his aid!
Come to meet him, angels of the Lord!
Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.
May Christ, Who called you, take you to Himself;
may angels lead you to Abraham’s side.
Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.
Give him eternal rest, O Lord,
and may Your light shine upon him forever.
Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.
Let us pray: We commend our brother, Henry Fagan) to you, Lord.
Now that he has passed from this life,
may he live on in Your presence.
In Your mercy and love, forgive whatever sins he
may have committed through human weakness.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
@Annonymous
I have been away for decades–I would not know much about Mr. Fagan, even if his last name is familiar in my mind.
And so I love your words above, I hope that you will allow me to share with you, on his behalf. They are such beautiful words to the soul of a good person who has passed away–I imagine that Mr. Henry Fagan was a good person.
Sincerest condolence to the family of Dr Fagan.May his soul rest in peace ,great lost to Dominica.
My sincere condolences to his family. I pray that God will give them the strength during this difficult time. To Mrs. Fagan, keep the faith and God will carry you through.
Shall miss you Henry. Never boastful, always knowledgeable, always willing to listen and share your insight. It are decent people like you that make the world more tolerable. Thanks for your contribution. RIP.
R I P Dr. Fagan. My condolences to the family.
Condolences to the family and friends of the great Dr. Fagan. Your contribution to Dominica, St. Lucia and to the region on a whole will always be appreciated by those who knew you. JOB WELL DONE!
Fear thee well and may the heavenly father accept you with open arms. May your soul rest in eternal peace..
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
Condolences to our neighbour and family of Dr. Henry Fagan. Our family was hocked and saddened to hear of his sudden passing. The Lord gives strength in times like these and His grace is sufficient for you. God bless from the Parillon family.
I heard Dr.Fagan’s voice on a radio station only last week, I believe. He was expressing his disappointment of not being consulted on the Black Sigotoka disease about which he was knowledgeable. So, I am really surprised to learn of his death.
My sincerest condolences to the family.
Deepest condolences to his wife, children and extended family members including my immediate family. You will be missed dearly but even in your failing years of health you continued to impart knowledge to those of keen enough to want to learn.
Sincerest Sympathies to the Fagan Family. While working at the DBMC I met Dr Fagan who based in ST Lucia and would be to do workshops. He was a man of few words but was very passionate about the Banana Industry. Dominica has lost a very resourceful man of the soil. Farewell Doc, Farewell, your niece Joan Pierre will be happy to welcome you home.
my condolance to the fagan family may the lord give u all the strenght to move on in his name
To the Fagan family may the Lord make it easy for you all during this trying period. Amen.
It was a pleasure speaking to Dr. Fagan once or twice. His children are very wonderful as I know them personally. He would tell me how proud he is of his children.
It is sad that the media really did not consult this man to deal with the disease affecting our bananas, had they done so perhaps he would be able to tell us how to deal with the disease thus restoring confidence in exporting to our Antigua market.
Today this knowledge of this has gone to the grave with Dr. Fagan.
Just a clarification. It is not the role of teh media to consult to ”deal with the disease” as you put it. That’s the role of the Ministry of Agriculture. The role of the media in relation to the Black Sigatoka disease is to bring awareness and to be a transmission channel for public education programmes developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agencies and organizations involved in the fight.
My condolences to the family and friends of Dr.Henry Fagan, may his soul rest in piece.
This may not be the right time for this but seeing that داوود عبد الرحمن brought it up i felt the need to comment…. Why don’t we Dominicans volunteers our expertise when we see that the country is in needs of it. why do we have to WAIT for someone to ask , we need to be more proactive as a people, come out and share your knowledge and stop blaming higher authorities of things they may not have known of. We can only openly know of things that have been brought to the forefront.
I agree, he could have written an article on the subject.
@ Concerned Dominican if you were interested in knowing of his volunteerism and ever willingness to help the Agricultural sector for Free you could have easily verified that, but clearly this is not your interest. Post your list of FREE attributes that you came forward with openly since you are so proactive. You don’t know a damn thing about the man, maybe never even heard of his existence but you running your trap and fingers
Because when we volunteer to help, they see us as little Dominicans… He was there all along and they refuse to use him even when he offered he was refused.. If he was from another country, he would have been accepted with open arms. The people who don’t know the details should do their research before opening their mouths… The man had a family to feed too! And they wanted him to do it freeness! He is an expert in the feild, yet they didnt even want to offer him a dollar for his work!!!!
May his soul rest in peace
Omg! I met Dr Fagan while he worked here in St. Lucia with WINBAN . Sorry i never knew he was back in Dominica or I would try to find and visit him. Very pleasant gentleman. My condolences to his wife and children. May his soul Rest in perfect peace.