The Editor, Sir:

The Centre for Gender and Development Studies(CGDS) of the University of the West Indies notes with regret the passing of Dr Lucille Mathurin Mair on Wednesday, January 28.

Lucille Mathurin Mair (née Walrond) was a stalwart in the fields of history and women and gender studies. One of her most significant academic contributions undoubtedly was the submission of her PhD thesis titled, 'A Historical Study of Women in Jamaica 1655-1844' in 1974, supervised by the first female professor in the university, Elsa V. Goveia. This pioneering study was the first of its kind to deconstruct the experiences of women under slavery providing an opportunity for women's voices to be heard separate and apart from those of men.

Her significant historical research has provided valuable insights into the lives of Jamaican women and this contribution to the historical record has been important in women claiming and reshaping their cultural heritage.

Leadership

Dr Lucille Mathurin Mair also served the university community as the first warden of Mary Seacole Hall on the Mona campus in the 1950s and 1960s, where she provided leadership for the women of the hall; but this was just the first step in a career which was a most distinguished one. Dr Mathurin Mair was a trailblazer in a variety of ways - as the first director of the newly-established Women's Bureau in Jamaica in the 1970s, as Jamaica's ambassador to Cuba, and as secretary general to the United Nations Decade for Women. She provided leadership for the drive to improve the quality of life of the world's women through her participation in the strong voice and influential lobby of the world's women who have, since the late 1960s and 1970s, identified priority areas for action, and have initiated and implemented significant change processes over the years.

These change processes have made a great difference for good in the world. They have enhanced the status of women worldwide and have also generated an environment in which women's special needs are identified and considered in planning for development.

She also contributed to the nation's recognition of the need for us to develop a respect for our cultural heritage and diversity, including the particular culture of women. The Women and Development Studies groups, which were formed in 1982 among University of the West Indies women in an effort to promote the introduction of Women's Studies courses and programmes within the academy, benefited greatly from her leadership. She was the first regional coordinator for the Project of Cooperation in Teaching, Research and Outreach in Women and Development Studies from 1986-1989.

The centre has honoured Dr Mathurin Mair's work in the establishment of the bi-annual Lucille Mathurin Mair Lecture Series produced by the Mona Unit of the CGDS since 1998, and most recently, with the publication of her doctoral thesis in 2006 edited by Professors Hilary Beckles and Verene Shepherd.

We extend our sincere condolences to her children and family at this time.

We are, etc.,

Centre for Gender and Development Studies

The University of the West Indies.