Dorothy Pine McLarty, First Woman to Chair Jamaica’s Electoral Commission, Dies

McKoys News | 2025-12-01 | Original Article

Kingston, Jamaica – Dorothy Pine McLarty, a pioneering figure in Jamaica’s legal and public service sectors, has passed away. She died on Sunday; no cause of death has been disclosed.

 

Pine McLarty made history as the first woman to chair the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), serving the commission for 19 years, six of them as chairman. Her tenure was marked by dedication to integrity and the fair administration of elections.

 

A graduate of St. Andrew High School for Girls in the 1950s, she qualified to practice as a solicitor in 1967. In 1973, she broke another barrier by becoming the first woman partner at the law firm Myers Fletcher and Gordon.

 

Beyond her legal career, Pine McLarty was a longstanding director of the Jamaica National Group. In 2017, she was conferred with the Order of Jamaica in recognition of her significant contributions to the nation.

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness paid tribute on social media, describing her as “a woman who upheld integrity and served the Jamaican people with courage and grace.”

 

Pine McLarty’s legacy as a trailblazer for women in law and public service will be remembered across the island