| Birth date | 1945 |
|---|---|
| Death date | 19 April 2024 (aged 79) |
| Birth name | Princess May Lawes |
| Birth place | Mandeville, Jamaica |
| Party | Jamaica Labour Party |
| Office | Member of the House of Representatives of Jamaica for Saint Ann North Western |
| Office 1 | Member of the Senate of Jamaica |
| Term start | 1980 |
| Term end | 1989 |
| Term end 1 | 1980 |
| Term start 1 | 1976 |
| Alma mater | University of Kentucky |
Princess May Lawes (1945 - 19 April 2024) was a Jamaican politician from the Jamaica Labour Party. She served in both houses of the Parliament of Jamaica.
Early life and education
Lawes grew up in Mandeville, Manchester Parish.[1] She studied in the United States at the University of Kentucky in Lexington and returned to Jamaica in 1974.[1]
Career
She elected for Saint Ann North Western in the 1980 Jamaican general election defeating cabinet minister Arnold Bertram.[2] Before then she was a member of the Senate of Jamaica.[3]
Lawes was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Community Development from 1980 to 1983.[4]
She was later president of the Inter-American Commission of Women at the Organization of American States.[5] She also worked at the Jamaica Union Conference.[6]
Personal life
Lawes was a Seventh-day Adventist.[3] She served the church for years in various capacities.[7]
She died on 19 April 2024, at the age of 79.[8] Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to her as did current Saint Ann North West MP Krystal Lee.[4][8] On her death the opposition People's National Party (PNP) said her "advocacy for women, children, and the marginalised, resonated deeply with many”.[9]
References
- ^ Powell, Kara (2024-04-22). "JLP & PNP Hail Late MP Princess Lawes". Nationwide 90FM. Archived 2024-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ Times, Caribbean (2024-04-23). "JAMAICA- End of an era PM on the death of former JLP MP". Caribbean Times. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "Former MP Princess Lawes dies at 79". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2024-04-21. Archived 2024-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "Statement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on the Passing of Former Parliamentary Secretary Princess May Lawes – Office of the Prime Minister". 2024-04-23. Archived 2024-12-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "PM, church, mourn former MP Princess Lawes - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 2024-04-21. Archived 2024-12-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "Jamaica Union Conference Mourns the Passing of Princess Lawes". Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ McKnight, Franklin (2024-04-22). "PRINCESS LAWES' CONTRIBUTION SAID 'INVALUABLE'". North Coast Times Jamaica. Archived 2024-12-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ Weston, Donique (2024-05-19). "Former Northwest St. Ann MP Princess Lawes laid to rest". IRIE FM. Archived 2024-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "PNP expresses condolences on the passing of former MP Princess Lawes - Jamaica Observer". www.jamaicaobserver.com. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-11-30.