IT was a delightful surprise for Maxine Henry-Wilson when she received the news that she had been appointed to the Order of Jamaica (OJ) in this year’s national honours and awards.

“It was totally unexpected. I have been in this thing for so many years from I was at high school [St Andrew High School for Girls] so it was totally unexpected,” the former Government minister told the Jamaica Observer.

Henry-Wilson, who was appointed to the Order of Distinction, Commander Class (CD) in 2018, added, “I am thankful to the Jamaican people and thankful to those who recognised me for whatever contribution I have made to Jamaica.”

The two-term Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Eastern — 2002 to 2011 — had earlier served as Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and general secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP) for 10 years.

She also served in several Cabinet posts including minister of information and minister of education, a ministry she led until she stepped away from the political stage.

But even after leaving representational politics, Henry-Wilson continued in her service to the country.

“I was responsible for setting up the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission. That was one of the agencies that came out of the 2004 report on the education system. Its original mandate was to provide regulations for what was a fast-growing, and crucial segment of the education sector.

Maxine Henry-Wilson hosting a post-Cabinet media briefing while serving as the Minister of Information.

“I did that for four or five years, then I was engaged with the JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) for the setting up of its Caribbean Military Academy. And then I went to Mico [University College] as dean of its Graduate School of Education,” Henry Wilson told the Observer.

“For all of that period, while I was formally engaged in the education system I was still working in what I call on the ground. I have been chair of the Clan Carthy High School board of management for a while… and I am also on the St Andrew High School for Girls’ board as the chair of the education committee.

“And those are where I have focused my energy for the last six or seven years because that’s where the rubber hits the road because that’s where you can assist in building capacity in areas such as students’ performance and faculty development and I still teach at The University of the West Indies,” said the 74-year-old who is just now slowing down.

“I don’t do as much as I used to but especially the school development aspect I am very interested in that because everybody has an opinion, but when you actually see what it is you realise there is much, much more work to be done,” added Henry-Wilson who holds a master’s degree in public administration from The University of the West Indies and a master’s degree in public policy from Rutgers University.

On Thursday, Henry-Wilson’s joy was shared by the man who replaced her as the PNP’s representative in St Andrew South Eastern, Julian Robinson — who has held the seat since 2011.

“I think it is a fitting and well-deserved tribute for somebody who has devoted her entire life to public service. From in the early 1970s, as somebody in her 20s she decided that public service was her way of giving back, and for her entire adult life she has been committed to the upliftment of the Jamaican people,” said Robinson.

“And even now, in what can be considered the autumn of her career, she is still serving at the Mico University, so I think it is a well-deserved tribute for someone whose entire public life has been an example of high levels of integrity, selflessness, and giving back to the country,” added Robinson.