On Saturday, February 9, 2013, as a part of the Organization’s 13th Anniversary celebration, Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), held an award ceremony to honour five women who have given their lives in service to Jamaica and the Labour Party. Honourees were Enid Bennett, CD, OJ Dr. Mavis Gilmour-Peterson, CD, OJ, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, MP, Shahine Robinson, MP, & Dorothy Lightbourne, CD.

The ceremony aptly dubbed ‘5 Women in 50 Years: My Life in Politics’ saw to the honourees giving presentations on their political lives and contribution to the development of Jamaica. In wide ranging presentations, the four women who presented shared the sentiment that they never intended to be in representational politics but somehow, politics chose them and encouraged the women in the audience to step into representational politics.

Ms. Enid Bennett, who has had 30 years in representational politics, spoke of the significant sacrifice that it require and recounted having to sell her home to pursue politics. She spoke of the need for integrity in the politic process and highlighted that she never had to buy a single vote during her career.

Dr. Mavis Gilmour, who was the Caribbean's first female surgeon and served as Minister of Education in the 1980's, encouraged members of the organisation to keep their dignity as they embark on a life of politics.   She urged "You don't have to lose your dignity, you don't have to lose yourself, you have to expand yourself” and reminded the crowd that "nothing can bring self-satisfaction like service, no yacht, no riches... Nothing"

Perhaps the most touching story was that of Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange who was the first female political prisoner in Jamaica in 1976 and was exiled shortly thereafter. Her story brought some members of the audience to tears as she told the story of being locked up for 7 months without being charged, being exiled and her subsequent return to the island.

Mrs. Shahine Robinson reminded the audience that politics is about seeing how you can better the life of your fellow man and, as such, she has ensured that she has developed a close relationship with her constituents, knowing almost all by name. She indicated that she believes that you must be with the people in their times of joy and times of sorrow and lives by Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Ronique Rhoden, Chairperson for the Gender Affairs Committee of G2K, stated that “G2K opted to honour these women based on their contribution to developing Jamaica and we think it is high time we recognize the significant contribution that our women have made in the last 50 years to this country”

For his part President of the organisation, Floyd Green, added "it is the hope of the organisation that this event will inspire more young women to play an active role in politics."

The event was held at the JLP Headquarters on Belmont Road, Kingston and was hosted by Ms. Merlene C. Daley, OD, JP. It was attended by, Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness and members of the JLP central executive, Kamina Johnson-Smith, Marcia Forbes, members of Generation 2000 (G2K) and other persons of note.