GUYANA’S latest centenarian, Cecelia Rebecca Tappin, of Lichfield, West Coast Berbice, was yesterday honoured with a visit from President Donald Ramotar, as her many family members, neighbours and friends gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday. The President said that ‘Sister Tappin’, as she is fondly called, is an invaluable prize, as she stands as a witness to 100 years of Guyana history, and he urged members of the community to take time off to record some of the events that she still recollects.

“We are a combination of our past and our present; and the more we know about our past, the better we will be able to deal with the future that lies ahead…we are fortunate to live in a country where we have a mix of several ethnic groups and several cultural backgrounds, and this must be seen as a strength for us,” President Ramotar said.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who was also present at the ceremony, said that government is committed to doing all in its power to ensure that its senior citizens enjoy their golden years.
Cecilia Tappin was born on January 8, 1912, to Sarah Reid and Holbert Williams. She was a vendor at the New Amsterdam Market and an active church member. She is survived by her six children, 24 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.  (GINA)