KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leslene Davis, a pioneer for women’s leadership in service to Jamaica in the areas of industrial development, contributions to national charitable causes and commercial and community development died at home in Kingston Saturday morning.

Between 1966 and 1981, Davis served as a civil servant within the Ministry of Industry and Commerce working directly under Government Ministers Robert Lightborne, PJ Patterson and Danny Williams. She played a key role in conceptualising and rolling out the industrial revolution in Jamaica known as Garmex.

This spawned the genesis of the manufacturing of clothing made in Jamaica, by Jamaicans for the purposes of export, a press release announcing her death stated.

“After special national events, such as Hurricane Gilbert, where the health sector needed specific crisis related intervention; Davis championed fund-raising activities for hospitals throughout Jamaica in 1991, as the chairman of Health Jamaica Trust, a charitable organisation endorsed by the Ministry of Health within the Government of Jamaica. She curated a charitable concert, the first of its kind ever to be done in Jamaica, which saw the international entertainer Harry Belafonte performing in the island with proceeds to benefit the hospitals of Jamaica,” the press release read.

It added that the result of which provided critically needed medical supplies, hospital beds and hospital furniture island wide.

In 1994, Leslene delivered to Jamaica through entrepreneurship, the first of its kind commercial development which seeded Ocho Rios, St Ann with 120 two-bedroom and three- bedroom condominium residences that were operated and managed by a hotel chain.

The commercial development was known as Crane Ridge which entered the market branded and operated as Comfort Suites, which is known today as Mystic Ridge Resort.

“Then in 1996 through to 2017, Leslene Davis continued to contribute to nation building through the creation and development of new communities, in response to the crisis of housing stock shortages for the workers of Jamaica. Through joint venture partnerships with the Government of Jamaica, Davis developed over two thousand housing solutions for the workers of Jamaica in the parishes of St Elizabeth (Gazeland Meadows), St Mary (Liberty Estates Phases one and two, Annex), St Catherine (Cedar Grove Estate) and St Andrew (Diamond Court),” the release added.

It went on to say that as a principal and director of Landmark Developers Limited and the Consortium Group of Companies; she assisted thousands of Jamaicans by providing market discounted service lots which made it affordable and easy for the workers of Jamaica to own their first piece of land on which to build their dream home.

“Through this entrepreneurial endeavour, she assisted many Jamaican workers to access loans and/or credit from financial institutions using their land titles as collateral, which would have helped in paying for education of their children and capitalising small and medium business enterprises for the growth of the Jamaican economy,” the release said.

Born on March 21, 1946. Leslene was 77 years old when she lost her battle with cancer. Her daughter Melissa Silvera nee Walter, son-in-law Jolyan Silvera, and grandsons: Adam, Aden and Axel carry on her legacy.