Violet Neilson, the inaugural female speaker of Jamaica’s House of Representatives, revered as a “pillar” of local politics, has passed away at the age of 92.
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Speaker Juliet Holness conveyed the news to lawmakers just before the House concluded its session on Tuesday evening.
Neilson, a former parliamentarian representing St. James East Central, held the position of speaker from 1997 to 2003.
The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), to which Neilson belonged, expressed that her passing has left behind a “legacy of service, dedication, and steadfast commitment to the people of Jamaica.”
“It said her tenure as speaker under the PJ Patterson administration Her tenure was marked by her firm yet fair leadership, her integrity, and her tireless advocacy for parliamentary democracy. She was a trailblazer for women in politics and public service, and her contributions have paved the way for many who followed in her footsteps,” it said of her tenure as speaker.
The party further stated that: “she was known for her deep compassion, her keen intellect, and her steadfast dedication to her constituents.
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“Violet Neilson was a beacon of strength and a true servant of the people. Her pioneering spirit and her contributions to our nation will never be forgotten. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones during this difficult time,” said party president Mark Golding.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed his sadness at Neilson’s passing.
“Neilson’s contribution to Jamaica was marked by her legacy of service to Jamaica both in the civil and public services, as a teacher then later in representational politics serving the people of St James East Central,” he said in a statement.
Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, during whose administration Neilson served as speaker, described her passing as “a very personal and deeply painful loss that cannot be adequately expressed in words.”
“A devoted and relentless representative in the cause of uplifting the children, women and every citizen within her constituency. The name of Violet Neilson will remain indelibly etched in that annals of our nation as the first female Speaker of the House of Representative,” he said.
Neilson is also celebrated for being the inaugural female president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society.
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