Princess Lawes | |
---|---|
Member of the House of Representatives of Jamaica for Saint Ann North Western | |
In office 1980–1989 | |
Member of the Senate of Jamaica | |
In office 1976–1980 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Princess May Lawes 1945 Mandeville,Jamaica |
Died | 19 April 2024 (aged 79) |
Political party | Jamaica Labour Party |
Alma mater | University of Kentucky |
Princess May Lawes (1945 - 19 April 2024) was a Jamaican politician from the Jamaica Labour Party. She served in both houses of the Parliament of Jamaica.
Lawes grew up in Mandeville,Manchester Parish. [1] She studied in the United States at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and returned to Jamaica in 1974. [1]
She elected for Saint Ann North Western in the 1980 Jamaican general election defeating cabinet minister Arnold Bertram. [2] Before then she was a member of the Senate of Jamaica. [3]
Lawes was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Community Development from 1980 to 1983. [4]
She was later president of the Inter-American Commission of Women at the Organization of American States. [5] She also worked at the Jamaica Union Conference. [6]
Lawes was a Seventh-day Adventist. [7] She served the Church for years in various capacities. [8]
She died on 19 April 2024,at the age of 79. [9] Prime minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to her as did current Saint Ann North West MP Krystal Lee. [4] [10] On her death the opposition People's National Party (PNP) said her "advocacy for women,children,and the marginalised,resonated deeply with many”. [11]
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