Dr. Mavis Gilmore

For the first time in the country's political history, we have a female prime minister. But before the Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, there were:

Iris Collins

Iris Collins was the first and lone female to sit in Parliament from 1944-1949, representing St. James's North West constituency. Charting the way for females in representational politics, she was notorious for daring to walk into a meeting of the House of Representatives, with her head uncovered, putting firmly on the agenda, the matter of 'appropriate dress code'.

Iris King

Iris King

Iris King entered politics in 1947, representing the PNP when she won a seat on the KSAC, from 1947-50 and from 1956-59. She was elected MP for West Central Kingston in 1959. Mrs. King also served as parliamentary secretary for communications and works.

Esme Grant

Esme Grant

Parliamentary secretary of Education from 1962-70 . She also served as parliamentary secretary of labour.

Mavis Gilmore

Dr. Mavis Gilmore has served both political parties. She was also a member of Robert Lightbourne's short-lived United Party.

From 1972-80, she was parliamentary secretary of health and environment and minister of education from 1980-86. She was also minister of social security and consumer affairs.

Phyllis Macpherson

Minister of education between 1976-80.

Carmen McGregor

Carmen McGregor

Minister of state for women's affairs from 1976-82. She represented Central Westmoreland.

Enid Bennet

Enid Bennett

The longest-serving female Member of Parliament, she has been a member of the JLP since 1978. She became parish councillor for St. Catherine in 1966. She won the polls in two constituencies in St. Catherine when she contested successfully in seven consecutive general elections, resulting in her serving as Member of Parliament between 1967 and 1997.

In 1978, she was elected as deputy leader of the JLP, a post she held until 1997, when she retired from representational politics.

Euphemia Williams

Euphemia Williams

Euphemia Williams is best known for defeating former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in Eastern Westmoreland in the 1980 General Election. She was also a Member of Parliament, representing South East Westmoreland from 1981 to 1983.

Majorie Taylor

Majorie Taylor

A former minister of state in the Ministry of Health, Ms. Taylor stepped down as Member of Parliament for Eastern Kingston and Port Royal just before the December 1997 General Election. She is former PNP MP for Central Kingston.

Violet Neilsen

Violet Neilsen

Violet Neilsen represented the PNP in East Central St. James, Westmorland. She was a schoolmate of former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. She was, Speaker of the House, before retirement.

Rose Leon

Rose Leon

Fondly known as 'Madam Leon', she successfully served as Member of Parliament for both political parties. Madam Leon served as a minister of health and housing in the Jamaica Labour Party government of the 1950s before switching political allegiance in 1966 to the People's National Party. She created history by being the only parliamentarian to be appointed minister in both the JLP and PNP Cabinet. She was murdered on August 16, 1999.