Carmen Campbell, a trailblazer in Jamaica’s public administration, is the first woman to be appointed Permanent Secretary, the highest administrative position in the Jamaica Civil Service. Her extensive qualifications include a B.Sc. in Economics and Business Administration from Columbia University and 15 years of experience at the Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation (JIDC), where she rose to Director of Planning and Research. Mrs. Campbell's impressive career spans roles in economic research, industry development, and international representation, making her uniquely qualified for this prestigious post.

Published Wednesday, October 16, 1974

First Woman Permanent Secretary

Mrs. Carmen Campbell (nee West), has made history in the Jamaica Civil Service by being the first woman to be appointed to the post of Permanent Secretary, the highest administrative grade. She has been assigned to the Ministry of Marketing and Commerce of which the Hon. Vivian O. Blake Q.C. is Minister.

Her most recent post was director of the Planning and Research Department of the Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation, with responsibility for investigating the status of industries operating in Jamaica. Fifteen years ago, she joined the staff of the JIDC as economist.

Mrs. Campbell represented the Jamaican Government at several conferences abroad and was a member of several delegations. She served on the team to Washington to discuss long-term arrangements on cotton textiles relating to Jamaica’s exports to the United States.

She participated in an international seminar on “Economic Programmes and Decisions  in Overall Economic Planning” in West Berlin on the invitation of the German Foundation for Developing Countries and also visited Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Venezuela as Jamaica’s representative to investigate the development of industry in those countries.

Born in Fellowship in Portland, Mrs. Campbell received her early education at the Titchfield Elementary and Secondary Schools up to the grade of Cambridge School Certificate.

She worked at the Caribbean Commercial Company Ltd. and Central Housing Department before leaving for New York, where she entered Columbia University to read Economics and Business Administration.

Before returning to Jamaica, she gained experience in accountancy with the firm of M. Rothschild and Company in New York.

She holds membership in the Jamaica Chapter of the Society for International Development and is a voluntary social worker. A widow, she has one adopted daughter.

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