Bartlett pays tribute to Violet Neilson
Member of Parliament for St James East Central Edmund Bartlett has expressed regret at the passing of former House Speaker Violet Neilson.
Neilson, who was also Member of Parliament for St James East Central between 1989-1997, died on Tuesday at the age of 93.
READ: Jamaica’s first female House Speaker, Violet Neilson has died
Neilson, who served in several People’s National Party (PNP) administrations under Prime Minister PJ Patterson as MP in St James East Central, was succeeded in the constituency by Bartlett.
Neilson was a former teacher, who also served as the first female president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society.
Bartlett hailed Neilson as an outstanding former politician and legislator, a former Member of Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education and later Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“It is with deep regret that we learn of the passing of one of the outstanding former politicians and legislator, Mrs Violet Neilson,” Bartlett declared.
He added: “Mrs Neilson has served consecutive terms and is the only PNP Member of Parliament for East Central St James. She has made her mark as a true patriot, a driver of discipline and a very powerful voice for the uplifting of the poor and the less fortunate persons, particularly in her constituency of East Central St James.”
Bartlett, who is also the Tourism Minister, lauded his predecessor for her contribution to the St James East Central constituency.
“As a successor MP to her for the past 22 years, I am very appreciative of the contribution she has made and the work she did during her stint that I built on and have taken to another level in the constituency,” Bartlett stated.
“To her extended family, I offer my condolences and to those who have been close to her, particularly her latter years when her health faded and her health ebbed, to them I say a deep appreciation and thanks for the work which you did to enable a closing chapter in her life to be more comfortable. May her soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine on her,” he further stated.
