Ivy Joshua | |
|---|---|
 from Ebony, October 1967 | |
| Born | Ivy Inez McQueen 25 December 1924 Grenada |
| Died | 1992 (aged 67–68) Kingstown, Saint Vincent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Other names | Ivy Inez Joshua |
| Occupation(s) | trade unionist, politician |
| Years active | 1952–1979 |
| Known for | first woman parliamentarian in St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
Ivy Inez Joshua (née McQueen; 25 December 1924 – 1992) was a Grenadian-born seamstress and politician, who was the first woman elected to serve in the Legislative Council of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines when universal suffrage was granted. Though she won her seat in six consecutive election cycles, with a substantial majority each time she ran, Joshua was often the target of politically-based inquiries and investigations. She served in the legislature from 1958 to 1979 and simultaneously on the Executive Council from 1960 when she was appointed as the Minister of Social Services. Joshua served from 1961 to 1964 and again from 1967 to 1972 as a Minister without portfolio, before being appointed as Parliamentary Secretary and later leader of the opposition.