Ann-Marie Vaz

Ann-Marie Theresa Vaz (born 13 March 1966) is a Jamaican politician who is the Member of Parliament for the Portland Eastern constituency.

Ann-Marie Vaz

MP
Member of Parliament
Assumed office
16 April 2019
Preceded byLynvale Bloomfield
ConstituencyPortland Eastern
Personal details
Born
Ann-Marie Theresa Lyew

(1966-03-13) 13 March 1966
NationalityJamaica
Political partyJamaica Labour Party
Spouse(s)Christopher Wood
​
(m. 2003)​

She was born Ann-Marie Theresa Lyew on 13 March 1966 and raised in the Duff House district, bordering Manchester Parish and Saint Elizabeth Parish. Lyew lived with her grandmother, mother, and half-sister Trisha Thompson, among other relatives. Lyew attended the Bull Savannah Basic School, then New Forest Primary and Junior High, followed by the Hampton School. She also studied at Alpha Academy and Excelsior Community College before enrolling at the University of the West Indies. Lyew was a flight attendant prior to working for her first husband Christoper Wood's business. Following the end of her ten-year marriage to Wood, Lyew married Daryl Vaz in 2003. Together, they have one child and raise four others from Daryl Vaz's previous partnerships.[1][2] Prior to her political career, Ann-Marie Vaz founded the One Jamaica Foundation to improve Jamaican educational infrastructure, and served as its chair.[3][4]

Ann-Marie Vaz contested the 4 April 2019 by-election for the Portland Eastern constituency as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party, and faced the People's National Party candidate Damion Crawford.[5] A preliminary vote count by the Electoral Office of Jamaica favored Vaz,[6][7] as did the final result.[8] This was the largest turnout for any election in Portland Eastern.[7] Vaz became the first woman to represent Portland Eastern, as well as the first Jamaica Labour Party politician from the constituency to be seated in parliament.[3][9]

Vaz was sworn into office on 16 April 2019.[10] Vaz's swearing-in ceremony was attended by her grandmother, Eva May Wright,[11] who died five months later, on 15 September 2019, aged 99.[12][13] Vaz announced in May 2019 that she had established a fund for tertiary student expenses, using the first month of her salary as a sitting parliamentarian.[14]

References
  1. Wilson, Nickoy (7 March 2019). "'We are not a racist family' - Sister defends Ann-Marie Vaz's humble beginnings". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. Vaz, Daryl (February 2019). "Creating Jobs–Empowering Jamaicans" (PDF). Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  3. "Ann-Marie Vaz is Poised To Make History in East Portland, Jamaica". Essence. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  4. "One Jamaica Foundation helping early childhood commission". The Gleaner. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  5. "Vaz Promises Action, Not 'Pretty Talk', to Fix East Portland". Nationwide Radio. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  6. Walters, Patrice (4 April 2019). "UPDATE: JLP's Ann Marie Vaz declared MP Elect for East Portland". IRIE FM. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  7. "Ann-Marie Vaz Defeats Damion Crawford in Fiercely Contest East Portland Constituency". The Gleaner. My Island Jamaica. April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  8. "Ann-Marie Vaz to be sworn in as MP this week". Sun City Radio. April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  9. "'Action' did that!... Ann-Marie Vaz beats Damion Crawford in Portland Eastern by-election". The Gleaner. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  10. "Ann-Marie Vaz sworn in as Portland Eastern MP". RJR 94 FM. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  11. "Grandma turns up at Parliament to witness Ann-Marie Vaz swearing in". Jamaica Star. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  12. "Ann-Marie Vaz mourns death of beloved 'Grandma Eva'". Jamaica Obsever. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  13. "Ann-Marie Vaz mourns grandma". The Gleaner. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  14. "Ann-Marie Vaz to establish tertiary fund with first month's salary". Loop Jamaica. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
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