Robinson

Shahine Robinson

Many non-residents of North East St. Ann may be surprised to know that the charming Shahine Robinson loves dancehall music and parties.

Born in Claremont, St. Ann, the 53-year-old Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokeswoman on Local Government and Water, says listening to all genres of music and reading are her favourite ways to relax.

Maya Angelou is her favourite author.

Though her political career spans only six years, Mrs. Robinson told Flair that she had always been on the periphery supporting other candidates over the last 20 years.

She gained prominence in 2001 when she was asked by the then Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga to take control when Michael Belnavis took a leave of absence. Later, when the PNP's Danny Melville resigned, she offered herself for candidacy and has been representing the constituency ever since.

She sees herself as more than a politician.

"I am a social worker rather than a politician. My parents nurtured me with a strong social conscience and I've always wanted to help the less fortunate," she said.

A past student of Immaculate Conception High School, she has an associate degree in marketing and a diploma in public relations and marketing from Miami Dade University in Florida.

Before representational politics, she worked in the banking and tourism sectors. She owns a farm and is married to Captain Eric Robinson a pilot with Air Jamaica.

Maxine Henry-Wilson

Henry-Wilson

There is one similarity between the People's National Party's (PNP) Maxine Henry-Wilson and the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Shahine Robinson (apart from the fact that they are both women), and that is they both love to read Maya Angelou books.

If it feels like you have been hearing the name Maxine Henry-Wilson for quite some time, it's probably because her career began as far back as 1974.

Born in Manchester, Mrs. Henry-Wilson is the current Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew.

Her career began in 1974.

She left the arena for a short time to pursue academic studies in 1983 and returned as minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister and general secretary, PNP in 1994.

Since then, she held the position of Minister of Information in the Office of the Prime Minister 2000-2002. She has been the Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for St. Andrew South East since 2002.

Minister Henry-Wilson also lectured at the University of the West Indies (UWI) between 1985 and 1992.

But did you know that when she has a moment to spare, she enjoys reading, listening to jazz, and going to the theatre?

Among her favourite books and artistes are Aretha Franklyn, Shakespeare's Hamlet and The Lion King.

She is married to attorney Gladstone Wilson and has one daughter, Seya.