in the cause of upward mobility for women - Go

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jamaicagleaner • SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
D R J OYC E R O B I N S O N , O J, C D
Literacy. She was formally
appointed executive director in
1976 and held the post until
1981, when she became general
manager of the Jamaica
Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).
In that role, she administered
the transition from black and
white to colour television and
sought to give a better deal to
rural listeners in the orientation
of JBC Radio.
A trailblazer
in the cause of upward
mobility for women
Louis Marriott
Contributor
(First published in The Gleaner
on May 23, 2013.)
T
HE LATE Joyce Lilieth
Robinson (née Lawson),
who died on Sunday, May
12, aged 87, was essentially two
persons – the dedicated public
servant who stamped her brand
on empowerment through education, and the devoted family
member and friend for whom
no favour was too difficult or
inconvenient to grant.
She was born in St James on
July 2, 1925, and moved to St
Elizabeth at an early age.
Migrating to Kingston in 1938,
she unknowingly joined the pantheon of outstanding graduates
– including Prime Minister Hugh
Shearer, Archbishop Samuel
Carter, cultural icon Louise
Bennett-Coverley and Bank of
Jamaica Governor G. Arthur
Brown – of the remarkable private secondary school, named
St Simon’s College by its
Guyanese founder and principal,
‘Prof’ E.B. Hazlewood.
Teacher and librarian
Immediately following her studentship at St Simon’s, Lawson
taught at her alma mater and
then at Black River High School
from 1944 to 1949, and also
served as a volunteer librarian at
the St Elizabeth Public Library in
Black River from 1946 to 1950.
The quality of her voluntary
librarianship was obviously
impressive. In 1950, she
returned to the Corporate Area
to take up a job offer as library
assistant at the nascent Jamaica
Library Service (JLS). Awarded a
British Council scholarship, she
pursued a two-year course
(1954-56) at North Western
Polytechnic in London, earning
the Associateship of the Library
Association of Great Britain. She
was appointed deputy director
of the JLS in 1955.
On January 15, 1957, she married Leslie Robinson, whom she
had met on a banana boat. He
HEART Programme
Prime Minister Edward Seaga
called on Joyce Robinson to
direct the establishment and
development of his 1980s
Human Employment and
Resource Training (HEART) programme, which included eight
specialised academies, privatesector on-the-job training, and
the micro-business self-employment programme dubbed
‘Solidarity’.
After her retirement from the
public service in 1991, she provided consultancy services in
adult education and library planning and development through
Joyce Robinson Associates
Limited (1992-1996). She was
subsequently training coordinator (1996-99) of the
Government of Jamaica/United
States Agency for International
Development (USAID) Uplifting
Adolescent Programme.
was a Jamaica scholar and
renowned mathematics professor, who became principal of the
Mona campus of the University
of the West Indies (UWI). They
would become the first
married couple awarded
separate Orders of Jamaica.
The marriage yielded a son,
Leslie Anthony Robinson, and
a daughter, Dr Lilieth Ann
Robinson Bridgewater. With
their respective spouses,
over time, Anthony and Ann
gifted Joyce and Leslie
Robinson with six grandchildren. Professor Robinson
died on April 4, 2007.
Trailblazer
Joyce Robinson was
promoted to the post of
director of the JLS in 1957,
at a time when it was reckoned that there was a
glass ceiling retarding
women in organisations
from rising to the top.
Robinson was a trailblazer in the cause of
Organisational
connections
Joyce Robinson addressing the function at the opening of the
Department of Library Studies.
upward mobility for women. She
returned to North Western
Polytechnic in 1958 and, in 1959,
was awarded the Fellowship of
the Library Association of Great
Britain.
On her return to Jamaica, she
immediately set about establishing
the JLS as an exemplary public
agency. She encouraged bright
young women to enter the librarianship profession and was, herself,
the mentor of several young
librarians. One of the ways in
which she built the JLS into a
strong institution was by developing a winning team – comprising
herself, Leila Thomas, Dr Hazel
Bennett, Sybil Iton and Gloria
Salmon – to drive the institution.
Administrator
and strategist
Robinson was the quintessential administrator. She always
insisted on proper and adequate
documentation, especially relating to matters of discipline. She
made herself thoroughly conversant with government-service regulations and procedures
so that negative senior officers
could not hoodwink her into
accepting inaction because of
some restrictive rule where a
more positive option could be
legitimately applied.
She was not only very knowledgeable of the rules, but also a
smart strategist. While no one
knew better that the most
important resources in a library
were books, she would sometimes order shelving units ahead
of books for two reasons: (1)
when the books arrived, there
was no problem storing them,
and (2) powerful guests could
be invited on visits and lured
into the space with empty bookshelves that spoke eloquently of
the need for books.
JLS growth
In the 16 years that elapsed
between Robinson’s appointment as director of the JLS and
Prime Minister Michael Manley’s
call on her to proceed post-haste
to the National Literacy
Programme, the JLS had grown
from 60 libraries to 442 libraries
and service points. She had initiated the rural bookmobile programme, which was serving 242
areas. The Schools Library Service
had expanded from 333 to 853
libraries in primary and junior
secondary schools. The professional staff training programme
had accelerated to achieve an
increase from one qualified
librarian in 1955 to 37 in 1973.
In 1973, Robinson was seconded for two years from her substantive post of JLS director to
restore the National Literacy
Programme from ruin caused
largely by machismo-induced
rivalry among severely disunited
senior managers, who were consequently discarded. She adopted
a no-nonsense approach to her
administration, sometimes ruffling feathers but leaving no
doubt regarding the programme’s locus of authority.
Under the chairmanship of R.
Danny Williams and her directorship, the programme was transformed and rebranded as the
Jamaican Movement for Adult
Throughout her busy career,
Robinson was active in a large
number of voluntary servicerelated organisations. She was a
member and for several years
chairman of the National Council
on Libraries, Archives and
Documentation Services; president in 1964 and 1973 and executive member for several terms
of the Jamaica Library
Association; executive member
of the Jamaica National
Commission for UNESCO; council
member of the Institute of
Jamaica; member of the board
of governors of the Excelsior
Education Centre, St Hugh’s High
School, Girls’ Town of Jamaica
and other educational institutions; vice-chairman of the
Foundation for International SelfHelp; president of the Young
Women’s Christian Association
(YWCA) of Jamaica and chairman
of the Kingston YWCA; president
of the Soroptomist Club of
Jamaica; chairman and board
member of the National Library
of Jamaica, the establishment of
which she had strongly advocated; vice-president for several
years of the International Council
for Adult Education; executive
member of the Jamaica Council
for Adult Education; executive
member of the National Book
Development Council; fellow of
the Jamaican Institute of
Management; and member of
the Extra-Mural Advisory Council
of the University of the West
Indies and of the University
Women’s Club.
Special assignments
An expert in time management,
Robinson had a full slate of important special assignments over the
years, starting in 1962 with a
USAID-sponsored Foreign Leaders
Programme, comprising tours of
16 cities over 60 days. She was
deeply involved in events relating
to the UN Declaration of Human
Rights and the International Year
of Human Rights. She participated
at various levels in a dozen international events that took her to
the United States, France, the
United Kingdom, Belgium, Israel,
India and other countries.
She wrote numerous
published papers and received
many Jamaican and international
honours and awards, including
honorary doctorates from
Dalhousie University and the
UWI, and the Order of Jamaica
for outstanding public service.
THE GLEANER, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 • www.jamaica-gleaner.com •
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jamaicagleaner • ADVERTISEMENT
THE HEART Trust/NTA Remembers
DR THE HONOURABLE JOYCE ROBINSON, O.J.
Jamaica has lost a great educator and leader….
The HEART Trust/NTA Family grieves with the family of the late Dr the Honourable Joyce Robinson, O.J. on her passing. Dr Rob or Dr Joyce as she
was called was a true champion of the people, so when she was asked to implement and lead the HEART Trust in 1982, it was a perfect fit for this great
Lady.
Through the hardwork and commitment of the then Board of Directors and Management (of which she was a part), HEART Trust became the beacon
of hope for thousands of young Jamaicans, many of whom are now major players in key sectors of our society. Her visionary leadership saw to the birth
of some seven (7) Vocational Training Institutions and two (2) Training Programmes preparing hundreds for the world of work in skill areas from
construction to business, from hospitality to beauty services.
Her hardwork also laid the foundation for the HEART Trust to become Jamaica’s National Training Agency - HEART Trust/NTA in 1991.
As we say goodbye to our former leader, the HEART Trust/NTA Family sends our thoughts to Dr Robinson’s family as we continue the work to which
she dedicated her life - educate and train the people of Jamaica, Land we Love.
TRIBUTE TO THE LATE
DR THE HON. JOYCE LILIETH ROBINSON
Dr Joyce Lilieth Robinson,
Pioneering Managing Director of the
Human Employment and Resource
Training (HEART) Trust, took up this
position in 1982 with a mandate to
assist in implementing the dream of
the then Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon.
Edward Seaga, which was to provide
for Jamaica, a means to put into
productive use, the country’s most
valued resource, its youth.
She brought into her job, extensive
administrative experience and a
healthy record of achievement as a
nation builder, with special emphasis
on the rehabilitation of those who
seemed to have least hope.
Dr. Robinson had an overwhelming
love for people and a strong desire to
see the success of others. In her own
words, “My greatest joy is to see
people succeed, to see them fulfill
their human potential; and to know
in some small way that I have
helped them.”
Dr. Robinson was also a true and
indomitable leader; she placed great
emphasis on teamwork, and never
failed to credit her teammates when
applauded for success.
With this background, it was not
surprising that Dr. Robinson was
honoured both nationally and
internationally, beginning in 1959 with
the Award of the Member of the
British Empire (MBE), followed in
1969 with a Silver Musgrave Medal.
In 1985, she was among the first
fifteen (15) to be named “Woman of
Distinction”, and in 1987 was
awarded the Order of Jamaica (O.J.)
by the Government of Jamaica for
Distinguished Public Service, during
the 25th year of our Independence.
The question then was,“Does Dr.
Robinson find time for anything
outside the major tasks of running
the Island’s largest training
programme?”
The answer was a resounding YES!!!!
This very busy lady was involved in a
number of organizations, most of
them to do with education and training
and the development of young people.
Dr. Robinson saw her life as one of
service to God and her fellowmen.
Her footprints are no longer on this
earthly soil, but she has left a lasting
legacy of LOVE, worthy of being
emulated.
May her soul rest in peace, and light
perpetually shine upon her.
Carmen Bromley (Mrs.) J.P.
Former Secretary/Administrative
Assistant to Dr. Robinson
HEART Trust
Dr Robinson along
with other officials at
the Ground Breaking
Ceremony at Ebony
Park Academy, Toll
Gate, Clarendon in
1984.
ents the Lifetime Award
Most Hon. Edward Seaga, pres
Former Prime Minister, the
30th Anniversary
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THE GLEANER, TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 • www.jamaica-gleaner.com •
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jamaicagleaner • JOYCE ROBINSON FEATURE
The library profession salutes the late Dr Joyce Lilieth Robinson
A tribute from the Library and
Information Association of Jamaica
T
HE LATE Dr Joyce Robinson, a woman of integrity, can truly be described as a nation builder
as a result of the selfless contribution which she
made to so many aspects of our national life. She
was, however, first and foremost, a librarian – and she
was always proud of this as her professional calling. As
a library administrator, she made an outstanding contribution to the development
of library institutions and became the
dominant figure in librarianship in Jamaica.
As such, she has left an indelible mark on
the profession at national and international
levels. With a strong and decisive personality, she was a leading force in the library
BLAKE
community even after she was no longer
actively involved in library work. The Library
and Information Association of Jamaica (LIAJA) pays
tribute to this outstanding librarian and acknowledges
with gratitude her contribution to the development
of libraries and to the library profession.
A founding member of the Jamaica Library
Association (the forerunner of LIAJA), Dr
Robinson served the association in several capacities, including that of president on two occasions
– 1964 and 1973. In 1992, she was elected an
honorary member of the association in recognition of her contribution to the growth and development of the profession and to the courageous
leadership she gave in promoting the value of
library services to national development.
Dr Robinson will be remembered specifically for
her role in the development of the Jamaica Library
Service from 1950-1973 (the last 16 years as director and the first Jamaican to hold this position).
Equally important was her role in advocating for the
establishment of a library school on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, as well
as her role as a founding member of the
National Council on Libraries, Archives and
Documentation Services. For this, she served as
the chairman from 1980-1990 and was instrumental in the establishment of the National
Library of Jamaica which she served as the first
board chairman (1979-1996).
So significant has her contribution been to
library development and to other aspects of
national life that, in 1994, the Library Association
published a book of essays in her honour titled
L i b r a r i e s , L i t e r a c y a n d L e a r n i n g. As Gloria
Clarke, then president, said, “The many achievements of Joyce Robinson have brought lustre to
the library profession and the Jamaica Library
Association salutes her on her accomplishments”.
This sentiment is echoed by the Library and
Information Association today as we join others in
giving thanks for her life of dedicated service to
our country.
Matthew Blake
President
LIAJA
FILE PHOTOS
A youthful Joyce Robinson.
Pauline Grant (left) presents Dr Robinson with her citation
at the Foundation for Self-Help Development (Ja) Limited
25th anniversary celebration dinner in 2010.
Dr Mavis Gilmour (right) and Dr Joyce Robinson at the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation
15th annual Golden Awards Banquet at The Jamaica Pegasus in 2007.
Right: Effie Lakersingh (left), and Dr Joyce Robinson (centre) in deep conversation with Lula
Wong at a National Council for Indian Culture of Jamaica reception to honour two judges at
The Jamaica Pegasus in February 2005.
Douglas Graham (left), chairman of the Norman
Washington Manley Foundation, and the Rev Eddie
Burke, recipient of the 1974 Norman Manley Award for
Excellence, stand against the background of a life-size
photograph of the late national hero while Joyce
Robinson, member of the awards committee, reads the
citation at a ceremony held at Porus, Manchester, in
July 1974.
Dr Joyce Robinson (left), vicechairman of the National Council
on Libraries, Archives and
Information Systems (NACOLAIS)
plants a kiss on the cheek of
Sheila Lampart, retiring executive
director of NACOLAIS, at a presentation and cocktail reception
held in her honour at Jamaica
House in June 1993.
Left: Pall-bearers carry the flagdraped casket of Dr the Hon
Joyce Robinson, OJ, CD, at the
official funeral at the UWI Mona
Chapel on Friday, May 31, 2013.
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
TRIBUTE IN HONOUR OF
OJ, MBE, FLA, LL.D
(HON) Dalhousie University, Canada & UWI.
The Department of Library and Information Studies, UWI owes its existence largely to the advocacy of a group of pioneer
librarians led by Dr. Joyce Robinson who influenced professional colleagues from other territories of the English Speaking
Caribbean to make representations to the University of the WestIndies concerning the establishment of a school for the
education of Librarians in the region. Although UWI approved the request in 1963, funding had to be identified and again,
Dr. Robinson’s influence along with representation by the Jamaica Library Association led the Government of Jamaica to
approach UNESCO for funding. With support from Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad &Tobago, UNESCO provided seed money
as a grant which facilitated the establishment of the Department of Library Studies at Mona in 1971.
In its formative years Dr. Robinson, and other pioneer professionals from the region served on the UWI Senate-appointed
Advisory Committee and the department benefitted enormously from their advice.
The development of a cadre of professionally trained library and information professionals in Jamaica and the Caribbean
must therefore be attributed in large part to the role Dr. Joyce Robinson played in the establishment of the Department of
Library and Information Studies, whose graduates now make significant contributions to the delivery of library and
information services throughout the Caribbean and beyond.
In acknowledgement of her contribution to the education and training of librarians in Jamaica and the
wider Caribbean, the staff and students of the Department of Library and Information Studies pay tribute
to the foresight and untiring efforts of an outstanding daughter of Jamaica.
MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE.
Paulette A. Kerr, PhD
HOD, Department of Library & Information Studies,
UWI, Mona
Special Award made to Dr. Joyce Robinson of the 1971 Advisory Committee which designed the programme for the Department of
Library and Information Studies at the DLIS 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner, October 4, 2012.
AWARD PRESENTED TO DR. JOYCE ROBINSON BY
MRS. ELSIE AARONS
DR. JOYCE ROBINSON AND DR. HAZEL BENNETT AT THE
DLIS 40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER