Mavis Gilmour

Mavis Gwendolyn Gilmour-Petersen, OJ, CD (born 13 April 1926) is a Jamaican medical practitioner and politician, representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). She served as minister of education from 1980 to 1986.

Early life and education

Gilmour-Petersen was born on 13 April 1926, in St Elizabeth. She is the daughter of Isaac and Adelaide Holness. Gilmour-Petersen attended Blake's Tutorial College; Howard University in Washington, D.C., and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Medical career

Gilmour-Petersen graduated from Howard University College of Medicine in 1951. She then served at a number of hospitals in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. In 1959 she embarked on her Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. Upon completion, she was appointed Consultant Surgeon at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and become the first woman surgeon in the Caribbean, serving the KPH from 1960 to 1976.

Political career

Gilmour-Petersen entered elective politics in 1976 and won the St. Andrew West Rural constituency which she held until 1989. As a member of Edward Seaga's Cabinet, she served as minister of education from 1980 to 1986 when she was replaced by Neville Gallimore. She then served as minister of social security and consumer affairs from 1986 to 1989.

Honours and awards

• Gilmour-Petersen was awarded the Order of Distinction, Commander Class in 2004.
• She was awarded Jamaica’s fourth-highest honour, the Order of Jamaica, in 2009.