By Frederick Halley
THE name Edith Bynoe has over the years become synonymous with politics in Guyana, blazing a trail several of her women folk dare to follow, and despite her advancing age, she has no intention of “hanging up her gloves” in the near future.In a wide-ranging interview, Mrs Bynoe, a recent recipient of the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH), spoke extensively on her life as a community and social worker, teacher, women’s rights advocate and politician, among other things.
Fit as a fiddle at 85, and still playing an active role in politics, the retired Parliamentarian, and Junior Minister said she was pleasantly surprised when she was informed that she was chosen by the David Granger-led administration for a national award but confessed that it was warranted. “I have worked tirelessly over the years, not only as a party and community activist, but also as a government official and I am happy to be recognized for my sterling efforts over the years,” Mrs. Bynoe confided.
Mrs. Bynoe recalled being recognized by Guyana’s Women In Development (GUYWID), a New Amsterdam-based organization for her role in her community and Berbice as a whole, but feels the CCH is the pinnacle of her many achievements.
Mrs Bynoe’s childhood days saw her attending St John’s Primary School in New Forest, Canje, where she was born. She later lived in Cumberland and attended secondary school in New Amsterdam where she was successful in her Junior Cambridge examinations.
Bynoe’s first job saw her joining ranks with her mother who was the deputy head mistress at St John’s, while also attending the Adult Education Association (AEA), pursuing the Senior Cambridge.
The diehard Berbician’s illustrious political career took off at the age of 21 as a Poll Clerk at the very first election for Universal Adult Suffrage in 1953. She recalled after the suspension of the British Guiana Parliament she became a member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which was being led by the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, also deceased, being in the forefront.
Prior to that, she earned tremendous respect for Burnham as a lawyer whose presentations at a murder case in New Amsterdam drew large crowds. When the split occurred between Jagan and Burnham, it was an easy decision for her to join the Burnham faction which saw the birth of the People’s National Congress (PNC).
Mrs Bynoe however pointed out that her foundation for success in politics and other spheres of her life started undoubtedly from the Guyana Federation of Women’s Institutes, of which she eventually rose to the position of president.
Sponsored by the British government in the early1950s, the body catered for women in the rural areas and among the stalwart contributors were Enid Forde, Enid Abrams, Ivy Paul, Inez Samuels, all headmistresses, and Norman Semple. She described the aforementioned as her mentors who played a massive role in her future life, both academically, politically and as a home-maker and housewife.
Already active in politics, while still doing community work in her area, Mrs Bynoe became a member of the Guyana Prison Service and immediately made her mark by being instrumental in the formation of the Prison Officers’ Credit Union and also had the unique privilege of heading the body which is still in existence.
Mrs Bynoe remembers playing a huge part in the construction of the Zorg Primary School, developed mainly by self-help in her village in 1966. During her stint in Parliament, she was also able to get the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) to allow villagers in the area to develop a large part of under-utilized land for agricultural purposes. She was quick to point out that she did not discriminate in this regard, and it didn’t matter to her which party the villagers were affiliated to. She also made arrangements for the acquisition of tractors and combines to ensure proper drainage and irrigation were in place to assist the farmers with their cultivation.

Another of her accomplishments was to acquire transportation for workers of the Berbice Mining Enterprise (Bermine) who had to endure difficulties getting to work. Mrs Bynoe paved the way for the then mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. Anthony Johnson, to acquire a mayoral vehicle by making representation to the late Forbes Burnham, highlighting the disparity between the various towns’ access to such vehicles.
After serving with the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Development respectively, Mrs. Bynoe entered Parliament in 1975. She served one year as a Parliamentarian before being appointed Minister within the Ministry of Trade with the responsibility for consumer protection.
She later occupied a similar position in the Prime Minister’s Office under the late Dr. Ptolemy Reid before retiring, thereby ending a 55-year public service career tenure.
During that time, she also attended extra mural courses at the University of Guyana (Ogle Training Centre).
Despite retiring, Mrs. Bynoe still plays an active role in party politics in and out of Guyana and has never severed her ties with the People’s National Congress (PNC). She has also been very active with the APNU/AFC coalition in Guyana and Canada. “It gives me pleasure anywhere I go, in and out of Guyana, to preach the gospel of the party and to give advice, encouragement and share my experiences…”
A firm believer in matching her skills with men and not one to be kept in the background, Mrs. Bynoe was the first woman in many fields. She was the first woman from Berbice to hold the post of Minister, the first woman to sit on the Bermine Bauxite Board, the only woman from Berbice to sit on the National Lands Selection Committee, the first woman from Berbice Branch to hold the office of president of the Prison Officers Association (Berbice Branch) and the first woman in the Caribbean to head the Prison Officers Association in their country.
Stressing that her motto in life has always being one of service to mankind, Mrs. Bynoe declared that, “throughout my life, I always love to give service to people and try my utmost to help all regardless of race, colour or creed; that to me is my hallmark in life, of which I am richly proud.”
Mrs. Bynoe reserved special praise for her husband, Prince, who died last November, after 62 years of marriage, pointing out that he was a tower of strength during her years as a public servant and parliamentarian, particularly at a time when women’s leadership often faced criticism and discrimination. Outside of the societal norm of the time, he took care of their children when she was required to work long hours or was required to attend party conferences away from Berbice.
The five children in their long-standing relationship are Alford, Penelope, Paulette, Laurin and Brian. They have 11 grandchildren and eight great-grands. The children and a grand were present at the National Cultural Centre when Mrs. Edith Bynoe was conferred with her CCH by President David Granger on October 6, 2015.