(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) As the Caribbean and Jamaica in particular prepare to bid farewell to one of its exceptional women, Lucille Mathurin Mair, the CARICOM Secretary-General, His Excellency Edwin Carrington is lauding her as the ideal example of true West Indian identity and pride.
Ambassador Lucille Mathurin Mair, the Fifth CARICOM Triennial Awardee who died on 28 January, 2009 will be laid to rest in her homeland Jamaica on Friday 6, February 2009. This Jamaican diplomat was an authority on Women’s issues with a distinguished career in diplomacy and international relations and provided leadership in women’s development at the national regional and international levels including the United Nations. Her work and positive impact had earned for her the coveted honour of the OAS Women of Distinction Award in 1987 and the CARICOM Triennial Award in 1996.
In a Note Verbale to Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Secretary-General Carrington outlined what he described as the late Ambassador’s outstanding and impacting service as a diplomat, scholar and women’s rights activist, noting that she had distinguished herself as “a Caribbean citizen of great intellectual stature and high international repute and of whom all the Caribbean is proud.”
According to the CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Mair was the quintessential example of the dynamic nature of Jamaicans, and this dynamism he said was evident in everything she accomplished.
He pointed to her seminal work – a sociological study titled Historical Study of Women in Jamaica, 1655-1844 – as one of her greatest achievements and opined that “to this day, this work stands as a convincing exposure of women as agents of history,” and described the study as “a path-breaking achievement at a time when Caribbean historiography ignored women.”
In expressing empathy with the Jamaican people, Secretary-General Carrington stated that Jamaica and the Community had lost “a good mother, a dedicated scholar, a skilled diplomat, and the ideal example of true West Indian identity and pride.”
Ambassador Mair was 85 years-old at the time of her death.
The full text of the Secretary-General’s message is affixed below:
“It is with deep sadness that I convey, on behalf of the Caribbean Community and on my own behalf, condolences on the passing of Ambassador Lucille Mathurin Mair.
Ambassador Mair was undoubtedly a Caribbean citizen of great intellectual stature and high international repute and of whom all the Caribbean is proud. For her outstanding service as a diplomat, scholar and women’s rights activist she was accorded the highly deserved honours of the OAS Women of Distinction Award in 1987 and the CARICOM Triennial Award in 1996.
Ambassador Mair was the quintessential example of the dynamic nature of Jamaicans, and this dynamism came forward in everything she accomplished. One of her greatest achievements was a sociological study, “Historical Study of Women in Jamaica, 1655-1844”. To this day, this work stands as a convincing exposure of women as agents of history. Furthermore, it was a path-breaking achievement at a time when Caribbean historiography ignored women.
No doubt, it was her extensive knowledge of women in Jamaican society which allowed Ambassador Mair to be appointed the first Advisor on Women’s Affairs to the Government of Jamaica. Her work in the Caribbean as the Regional Coordinator of the Women and Development Studies Unit (WAND) of the University of the West Indies provided positive impact on the lives of many women.
As a diplomat, Ambassador Mair was Jamaica’s Ambassador to Cuba. She had also served as the Ambassador Mair, in spite of other commitments, was able to serve as a representative on several international and regional boards and committees including the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Council (IDRC) in Canada, the Population Council (U.S.A.) and the International Conference on Apartheid in Nigeria. Most notably, during her work with the United Nations Ambassador Mair held a number of posts including that of Secretary-General of the World Conference of the United Nations Declaration for Women held in 1980 in Copenhagen and from 1981- 1982 when she was Special Advisor to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Women’s Development at the level of Assistant Secretary-General, at the time the highest appointment that a Caribbean diplomat had ever held.
Jamaica, and indeed the Community, has lost a good mother, a dedicated scholar, a skilled diplomat, and the ideal example of true West Indian identity and pride.
On behalf of the Governments and people of the Caribbean Community, please extend my deepest sympathy to the bereaved family and to the Government and People of Jamaica”.
