-Contributions will be remembered
THIS week’s sitting of the National Assembly saw tributes being paid to the memory and contributions of the late Nazir Ally, Member of Parliament of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) who passed away on November 14, 2009 in the United States of America.
Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir pointed out that he got to know Mr. Nazir when he joined the National Assembly after the 2001 elections and noted that Nazir felt that there was need to work hard with the people to respect the views of others.
Minister Nadir stated that Ally felt very strongly that persons are ostracized when they join parties which are dominated by other races and there is need to break down these barriers and respect people’s views and the freedom of association.
Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Robert Corbin said Ally was a dedicated party activist committed to national unity and reconciliation and development. He served at all levels of the party from the local groups to the Central Executive Committee and General Council.
Born on January 7, 1941 in the village of Bloomfield, Ally spent most of his 68 years using all of his energies in service of the people of his community and Guyana as a dedicated teacher, community worker, party activist, member of the Corriverton town council, and deputy mayor, regional councillor of the RDC of Region Six, member of his masjid and council of Islamic organisations of Guyana and MP, Corbin said.
“Mr. Ally devoted his early years acquiring the necessary education, training and skills to perform in his desired profession and having successfully prepared himself entered the teaching profession in 1963. Despite his many other activities and challenges, he spent his entire professional working life in this profession training Guyana’s youths to face the challenges of the future.”
He was elected councillor of Corriverton Town Council in 1986 and later served as deputy mayor and worked for the development of the town and citizens for several years.
His capacity for giving greater service was recognised and because of his sterling contributions to the party he was selected as a candidate on the PNCR’s list of candidates for the 1997/2001 and 2006 general and regional elections.
He served as a Regional Councillor after the 1997 elections until 2001 during which time he made continued contributions to develop the east Berbice region.
Corbin said Ally’s service resulted in him being extracted from the PNC list of candidates to be a Member of Parliament after the 2001 elections and served from April 17, 2001 to May 2, 2006 when the House was dissolved for general elections.
He served in many schools in Berbice and retired in 1996 after serving as the Headmaster of the Skeldon Primary School.
Corbin pointed out that Ally was last elected as a member of the Party’s Central Executive Committee at the 2009 biennial congress and shortly after election he left for a brief vacation in the US.
It was during that time when the party received the sad news of his demise. According to Muslim rites, he was buried with haste and members who toiled alongside him for decades were not given the opportunity to bid a final farewell.
Hence, the party will be holding a memorial service at 14:00 hrs tomorrow at the Corriverton Civic Centre, Corbin said.
Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman stated that Ally was the quintessential school teacher, very firm, yet soft in manner and approach, very deliberate and scholarly. He also pointed out that Ally will be remembered as one of the members who did not engaged in heckling and in discussions which were irrelevant and got straight to the point.
Trotman also stated that there is need to change the attitude of waiting until members have passed to honour and pay tribute to them and their contributions.