PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller has described former president of the Senate, Syringa Marshall Burnett, CD, as a nation-builder and trailblazer who, as a health-care professional, educator, parliamentarian and social activist, helped significantly to propel Jamaica’s development and the advancement of women.

At the same time, the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) also expressed sorrow at the passing of the veteran nurse, whose death was announced yesterday.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of one of Jamaica’s finest daughters, who has been a nation-builder in her time, and who has contributed so much to the development of our country and our people,” Simpson Miller said in a statement yesterday.

The prime minister recalled Marshall Burnett’s national contribution as a pioneering nurse, nursing educator, parliamentarian, tireless advocate for senior citizens and one who was passionate about the economic, social and professional advancement of women.

“As a Senator and later president of the Senate, she raised the bar of parliamentary decorum by the fine example she set. Her contributions were outstanding and profound, and her leadership fair and respected,” Simpson Miller added.

Marshall Burnett’s past leadership of the Nurses’ Association of Jamaica, and her leadership of the National Council for Senior Citizens, up to the time of her passing, also received high praise from the prime minister. She noted that political association and sympathies were never allowed to diminish the level of professionalism and stridency with which Syringa Marshall Burnett approached her work as a social activist and advocate.

Simpson Miller said that Marshall Burnett freely gave distinguished service and wise counsel to the People’s National Party, serving at the level of the Executive Committee, National Executive Council and internal commissions.

“I extend sincere condolences to her husband and other members of her dear family at this time of great loss and sorrow. We will miss her outstanding contributions, incisive interventions, her activism, her wise advice and her passion for the development of her country and her fellow Jamaicans,” the prime minister said.

The ruling PNP said that Marshall Burnett pioneered several advancements in nursing education and in the practical aspects of health-care delivery systems over many years.

“She was a staunch advocate for workers’ rights, women’s rights and a raft of social issues. The improvements and successes she scored in these areas by her strident advocacy achieved better working and social conditions across her beloved Jamaica,” the party said in a statement.

“Thousands of Jamaica’s nurses count Syringa Marshall Burnett as having directly assisted and inspired their entry and development in the nursing profession. She is as important to that profession as Mary Seacole, a true champion and eminent ambassador of her profession.

“Syringa took these qualities with her in all her pursuits,” the PNP said.

For his part, the PNP’s Deputy General Secretary Raymond Pryce added:

“Many of us younger members serving in the PNP would have benefited from those surprise phone calls or e-mails which would set

out commendations, advise gems of reminders which reassured, strengthened, advised and helped.”

PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill also paid tribute to the former senator.

“Her contributions at the executive committee were timely and profound. The balance she provided could have only come from her and reflected the tremendous experience she had coming from many years of serving quietly with all four presidents of the party,” Pickersgill said.