House Pays Tribute to Late Former Parliamentarian Hyacinth Knight

Members of the House of Representatives recently paid glowing tribute to late former parliamentarian, Hyacinth Knight, and observed a moment of silence in honour of her dedicated service to her community and country.

Ms. Knight served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1989 as Member of Parliament for St. Mary Western. Prior to entering Parliament, she served as Deputy Mayor of Port Maria in 1981 and later as Mayor from 1982 to 1983.

In 2011, she was recognised by the Government of Jamaica for her philanthropy and community service and was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD).

Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, said Ms. Knight embodied the principle of service above self.

“Ms. Knight was warm and generous in spirit, and this was reflected in the many ways in which she gave of herself to her community. Her commitment to the people of St. Mary was reflected in her involvement in education, community development, and philosophy. Her legacy of service has left an indelible mark on St. Mary and on the country, and will inspire generations to come,” she stated.

In his tribute, Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, expressed gratitude for Ms. Knight’s dedicated service, describing her as a lady of great honour and dignity.

“Hyacinth Knight opened her house to me during various campaigns, and I can attest that [she] was the mother for all. She was not, from my recollections and interactions with her, a sycophant. She was a strong and loyal supporter… but she spoke truth to power as she saw it. There were times when she would send me notes when she would say, ‘I don’t agree with some things’, in the same way as she would send me encouraging notes and, indeed… that is what a mother does,” he said.

Dr. Holness noted that 2026 had been a particularly difficult year with the passing of several individuals who had shaped and graced Jamaica’s political landscape, noting that it indicated “the passage of time, the changing of the guard and the changing of generations. It is the natural way of things.”

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development with Responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements, Hon. Robert Montague, described Ms. Knight as a kind and caring soul, noting that her lifelong motto was that she came to serve, not to be served.

Mr. Montague, the sitting Member of Parliament for St. Mary Western, said that “Ms. Knight was never too big to serve her fellow Jamaicans.”

“She did so in the classroom. She did so on the political hustings, and she did so in church,” he shared, noting that she played a critical role in the redevelopment of the Gayle Clinic and the expansion of the Boscobel Housing Scheme.

The Minister announced that a scholarship would be established in her honour to support a student attending Shortwood Teachers’ College in St. Andrew, where Ms. Knight studied.

Mr. Montague also advised the House that Ms. Knight’s church is completing a centre that she started, which will serve as a trade training and community centre in Fellowship Hall.

“The Government will be moving apace to rename the Fellowship Hall Square… the Hyacinth May Knight square,” he said.

In honouring her memory, Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, said that although he did not know Ms. Knight personally, she was a role model and pioneer, particularly for those who aspire to serve their country.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for St. Mary Central, Omar Newell, stated that Ms. Knight’s contributions deserved the respect of both the House and the nation.

“Though she served way before my time, I’m told she was not tribal in her service, and her Christian values were evident in how she cared for the people she served. As a son of St. Mary and a Member of Parliament for our constituents in the parish, I recognise the responsibility we inherit from frontrunners such as Ms. Knight,” he stated.