NCW hosts annual wreath-laying ceremony in tribute of late President Burnham

The National Congress of Women (NCW), the women’s arm of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), on Sunday paid tribute to the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham with a simple wreath-laying ceremony at its headquarters, Kitty Public Road, Georgetown.

Today marks the 33rd death anniversary of President Burnham and as such, the small group of women along with special guests, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and PNCR Chairman Basil Williams, congregated to reflect on the life and work of the late President.
As the wreaths were laid at the Burnham statue, there was the singing of a number of National Songs.
In her brief remarks, Minister Lawrence reflected on the late President, remembering that he valued and believed in women.
As such, she made the call for woman to not only be given the respect that they deserved in society today but to also be represented regarding issues affecting them.
Wreaths were also laid by a representative of the Burnham family along with representatives of several organisations as well as a representative from a number of Guyana’s administrative regions. Also paying a floral tribute to the late founder of the PNC was Williams.
The ceremony was reportedly kept simple this year as the country is preparing for Local Government Elections (LGE) and the PNCR for Congress.
Burnham served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1964 and as Executive President from 1980 until the time of his death in 1985 at the age of 62. He was also a lawyer and a father of six.
Burnham was elected Prime Minister of the self-governing colony then named British Guiana in 1964 and became the country’s first Prime Minister at Independence two years later. He won re-election in 1968, 1973, and 1978, although his critics accused him of fixing the elections.
After having the Constitution changed to make Guyana a “cooperative republic,” Burnham was elected “Executive President” in 1980.
Burnham was one of the founding leaders of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which was launched on January 1, 1950.
Burnham broke with co-founders Dr Cheddi and Janet Jagan in 1957 and formed the People’s National Congress (PNC).