Deborah Backer will be remembered for many things

THE Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, yesterday moved for Members of Parliament to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of a fallen comrade, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP, Deborah Backer.Trotman noted that Mrs. Backer served in the National Assembly since 1998, from the seventh Parliament through the 10th Parliament, until her resignation of February 7, 2014.

He recalled that the APNU front-bencher served in several capacities, including Deputy Speaker, from 2012 until her resignation; Chief Whip for the APNU; and a member of several Parliamentary committees.
Mrs. Backer’s final move in the National Assembly was the motion for the second reading of the Married Persons (Property) (Amendment) Bill 2013, which would amend the principal Act, the Married Persons (Property) Act. The Government had indicated its support for the Bill.
According to the Speaker, the MP wrote him last Wednesday to indicate that her colleague, Volda Lawrence, will pilot the bill on her behalf.
Trotman added that her work in the National Assembly saw her being honoured as an outstanding female MP at the last observance of International Women’s Day.

REMEMBERED
Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, registered condolence to Mrs. Backer’s family, on behalf of the APNU and the People’s National Congress (PNC).
“She was a dear friend, comrade and party member…she will be remembered for many things,” he said.
Granger pointed out that Mrs. Backer was a “serious” Parliamentarian, as well as an accomplished lawyer for over 30 years and an individual that was deeply concerned for the rights of women and children, interpersonal violence and living conditions of the ordinary Guyanese people.
He said, “Much of her work in and out of Parliament focused on this…she was a committed Member of Parliament who worked for the greater good of her country….we in the APNU and PNC feel a deep sense of loss.”
The Opposition Leader added that Mrs. Backer was truly a “Guyanese citizen” given her mixed heritage, which she was proud of.
As an APNU front-bencher, Mrs. Backer’s last portfolio was that of Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) MP, Cathy Hughes, added her party’s condolences and stressed that Mrs. Backer served Guyana beyond the call of duty.
She lauded Mrs. Backer’s approach to work in the National Assembly, especially her focus on working to reach tripartite agreements on important issues.
Hughes said, “This was her example…she was about moving Guyana forward, coming to compromise and negotiating so ordinary Guyanese would be better served by this House…she was staunch in her faith and believed that wes as MP, can do better.”
The AFC MP stated that the National Assembly has lost a “great person” and a “friend” who was committed to her cause and, by extension, the cause of the Guyanese people.
“It will not be the same without her,” she said.
Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, added his words of condolences on behalf of the ruling party and the Government and acknowledged her contributions to Guyana.
“She represented her cause and party well,” he said.
The Prime Minister praised her debating skills and quipped that Mrs. Backer’s heckling managed to put off quite a few Government’s MPs.
“Her death is a great loss to country,” Hinds said.
In recognition of her contribution to the National Assembly, the House is expected to host a night of remembrance on Wednesday.
Mrs. Backer will be laid to rest on Friday after a funeral service at St. Andrew’s Kirk . There is to be a brief viewing on Friday at the forecourt of the Public Buildings, after which her colleague MPs will act as casket bearers to take her to the church across Brickdam for the funeral service.
The national flag at Public Buildings is being flown at half-staff.

(By Vanessa Narine)