– seven years after her death
YESTERDAY marked seven years since the death of Former First Lady and Vice-President of Guyana, Ms. Viola Victorine Burnham nee Harper.

In remembering Viola –  widow of late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham – on the occasion of her seventh death anniversary, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said she “was a glittering star in Guyana” having achieved excellence and distinction in a wide variety of careers and accomplishments.

“Although she had been a member of the People’s National Congress and had served quietly as one of its researchers, her visible political life began when she married the then Prime Minister, L.F.S. Burnham in 1967,” the party said.

It recalled that she was elected Vice-Chairman of the People’s National Congress Women’s Auxiliary (PNCWA), a position which assisted her “in getting her feet wet in politics”.

When the United Nations declared 1975 “International Women’s Year” and the first world Conference was held in Mexico City, Ms. Burnham – the then Vice-Chairman of the PNCWA and Prime Minister’s wife – led the Guyana delegation to Mexico.

According to the PNCR, this was the period of the changing of the guard and, in January 1976, the organisation was re-named the Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM), with Viola Burnham as its National Chairman. The PNCR said this was Viola’s “point of take off in active politics”, a role she played until her retirement in 1991.

As a Women’s Rights advocate, the party said she championed Equal opportunity for women.  “She led the fight to reform the legal system in relation to the laws of Guyana which affected women (and) through her work, the Desiree Bernard Committee was established to make the laws a reality.”

“She was instrumental in the formation of the National Women’s organization, the Conference on the Affairs and Status of Women in Guyana (CASWIG) and the establishment of the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB),” the PNCR added.

On the International scene, Viola was remembered for being instrumental in the formation of the Caribbean Women’s Association (CARIWA), of which she served as its first Vice President.

She led delegations to the UN Decade Conferences, 1975 to Mexico; 1980 to Copenhagen, Denmark; 1985 to Nairobi, Kenya; and participated in the 1995 UN Conference in Beijing, China. Through her work, the WRSM hosted delegations from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe.

“Ms. Burnham possessed a fine and highly trained intellect with a phenomenal grasp of the world of learning and language. She mastered details and had a passion for high standards. This capability served her in good stead in her public duties, in the Party and service of Guyana, as a Minister,” the PNCR stated.

The party also recalled that Viola Burnham was a lady, in the best and noblest sense of the word, “refined, gracious and yet possessing the capacity to meet and understand the needs of citizens from all levels of Guyanese society.”

She was the recipient of many awards for her contributions including awards from the Republic of Guinea and Bulgaria. She was awarded Guyana’s second highest award, the Order of Roraima.

The PNCR yesterday joined members of her family and friends in remembering this esteemed daughter of Guyana.