Late Former Speaker of the House Hailed as Trailblazer

The late former Speaker of the House, Hon. Violet Nelson, has been hailed as a trailblazer who left an indelible mark on the island.

“Violet’s passing leaves a void that words can scarcely fill, yet her memorable life should inspire us all,” said former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, at Mrs. Neilson official funeral service, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, on Monday (July 8).

Mrs. Neilson made history as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, a post she held from 1997 to 2003. She was also the first female President of the St. James Branch of the JAS.

She was a member of the People’s National Party (PNP) and served as Member of Parliament for St. James East Central.

Mr. Patterson, who paid tribute via a video, highlighted that as a teacher, Mrs. Neilson’s passion for education was evident throughout her teaching career.

“For 19 years, she served as a teacher nurturing young minds at Chatsworth Primary, Somerton Primary and as Principal of Dumfries Primary. Her commitment to education was unwavering, instilling in her students the values of hard work, integrity and compassion,” Mr. Patterson said.

“Nothing would inhibit her determination to fulfil her potential to give the strongest foundation during the early phase of learning, to ensure due success for the upward mobility of all her scholars,” he added.

The former Prime Minister said that Mrs. Neilson’s poise and impeccable decorum became the gold standard that ambitious minds admired and aspired to emulate.

Mrs. Neilson’s love for her community of Somerton in St. James was also emphasised.

“[She] was raised in Somerton, and by her own deliberate choice, continued to live there for 92 full years. She was immersed in every aspect of endeavours that affected the welfare and productive aspect of the community that induced her engagement in the 4-H Clubs and eventual membership in the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), in a village of farmers,” Mr. Patterson said.

Turning to her political career, Mr. Patterson emphasised that Mrs. Neilson’s entry into the political arena was not done to garner individual recognition.

“She was ready and capable to serve wherever required and performed with such efficiency, delicately combined with a consummate grace as to be summoned by a consensual demand to constantly accept higher office, that accounted for her being a woman of many firsts,” he noted.

Among those in attendance at the service were Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister (West), Hon. Homer Davis, who represented Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness; Custos of St. James, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin; Opposition Senator, Janice Allen, who represented Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, and Shadow Minister for Education and Training, Dr. Angela Brown-Burke.