Violet Neilson


Violet Neilson (born 16 July 1931) is a Jamaican former politician and teacher. A member of the People's National Party, she was the first female speaker in the House of Representatives and the first female president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS).

Neilson was born on 16 July 1931 in Somerton, St. James, Jamaica to Caswell and Ellen (née Stewart). She was educated at the Mico Teachers' College in Kingston and returned to Somerton to become a teacher.[1]

Neilson was a teacher for some nineteen years. She then worked as a secretary for South East St. James member of parliament Upton Robotham.[1] She was Member of Parliament for Saint James East Central from 1989 to 1997.