Maxine Henry-Wilson

Maxine Antoinette Henry-Wilson, CD (born February 1, 1952) is a Jamaican educator and politician, representing the People's National Party (PNP). She served as minister of education from 2002 to 2007.[1]

Maxine Antoinette Henry-Wilson CD
Minister of Education, Youth and Culture
In office 2002–2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Sir Howard Cooke, Sir Kenneth Hall
Prime Minister	P. J. Patterson, Portia Simpson-Miller
Preceded by	Burchell Whiteman
Succeeded by	Andrew Holness
Personal details
Born	Maxine Antoinette Henry February 1, 1952 Manchester, Jamaica
Nationality	Jamaica
Political party	People's National Party
Children	1
Alma mater	University of the West Indies, Rutgers University
Awards	Order of Distinction (2018)

Early life and education

Henry-Wilson was born on February 1, 1952, in Manchester, Jamaica. She attended the St Andrew High School for Girls, University of the West Indies and Rutgers University.[2]

Education career

Henry-Wilson 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. She has served as lecturer in public policy and public sector management at Mico University College, Church Teachers' College and the University of the West Indies. From 2012 to 2018, Henry-Wilson served as Chief executive officer and commissioner of the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission.[3][4]

Political career

Henry-Wilson was first appointed to the Senate in 1992 from the PNP by then Prime Minister P.J. Patterson. She served as Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister in 1992, and then as Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in 1993. From 1994 to 2003, Henry-Wilson served as general secretary of the PNP, succeeding Peter Phillips. She was simultaneously appointed Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister.[5] Between 1994 and 2002, she was Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and was appointed Minister of Information in the Office of the Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001.[6] She was first elected to the House of Representatives from the Saint Andrew South Eastern constituency in the 2002 general election, polling 4,959 votes to 4,100 for Philip Henriques of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and 127 for Peter Townsend of the National Democratic Movement (NDM).[7] Henry-Wilson was subsequently appointed Minister of Education in the cabinet of P.J. Patterson, serving until 2007 in the administration of Portia Simpson-Miller, after the latter became prime minister in 2006.[8] She held the constituency in the 2007 general election, receiving 5,187 votes to Joan Gordon-Webley of the JLP (4,618).[9] Henry-Wilson retired from representational politics in 2011.

Honours and awards

• Henry-Wilson was awarded the Order of Distinction, Commander Class in 2018.[10]

Personal life

Henry-Wilson is married to attorney-at-law Gladstone Wilson. She has one daughter, Seya.[11][12]

See also

• List of Education Ministers of Jamaica
• Women in the House of Representatives of Jamaica
• List of female Members of the House of Representatives of Jamaica

References

1. Albert Ferguson (24 May 2019). "Seaga among trio honoured by the ECC". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
2. "Mrs. Maxine Henry-Wilson". Ministry of Education, Jamaica. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
3. ""Elections are won before election day" — Henry-Wilson". Jamaica Observer. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
4. "Mrs. Maxine Henry-Wilson". Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
5. Ryon Jones (4 September 2016). ""PNP needs structure" - Former general secretary disappointed with how party affairs being handled". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
6. "Maxine A. Henry Wilson". Literacy and Life. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
7. "Jamaica General Election Results (2002)". Electoral Commission of Jamaica. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
8. Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore (7 September 2007). "Women in the House". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
9. "Jamaica General Election Results (2007)". Electoral Commission of Jamaica. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
10. Romario Scott (22 August 2018). "Untold Stories of National Awardees". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
11. "Politics and family life". Jamaica Gleaner. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
12. Janet Silvera (28 February 2010). "Seya Wilson comes of age!". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 25 September 2020.