Marisa Dalrymple Philibert

Despite having a successful legal career, Marisa Dalrymple Philibert has decided on a career in representational politics.

The Trelawny South candidate for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) attended Westwood High School and the University of the West Indies, Norman Manley Law School.

Though being a lawyer, which is a full-time job by itself, this has not hindered her from being involved in various businesses and non-profit groups. She has been secretary/director for S.K.D.P. Haulage and Distribution Limited, D. Bay Garden Centre Limited, Sherold Limited and Royal Reef Hotel.

She is very involved in her community as a member of the board of trustees for Westwood High School, a founding board member of the MoBay Hope Diagnostic and Medical Centre, as well as past chairman of the board of management for Brown's Town Community College.

She had to put all these aside because of her decision to enter representational politics. Since Neville Gallimore resigned, people had been asking her to enter politics but the time wasn't right back then. She was concerned over what she felt was a sense of hopelessness creeping into the youth around her.

"When I looked at it, this country has afforded me a good education and right now, a good living. I feel it is incumbent on me to do something and politics is an excellent vehicle to give back," she said.

Her schedule is very hectic these days. A lawyer for the past 27 years, she attends court sessions in Falmouth but lives in St. Ann, the parish of her birth. Once she gets through with her clients, it's off to deal with constituency matters.

"My biggest challenge is being able to be there for the people. Like my legal practice, I realise they just want a relationship with you; to touch base with the person representing them," she says.

Mrs. Dalrymple Philibert is married with four children.