THE conferring of national awards is recognised as a mechanism which the Constitution of Guyana provides to give due national recognition to outstanding citizens and in 2016 a significant number of women were recognised in that regard. The process of conferring national awards was restarted in 2015 and several women were recognised for their life’s work towards the development of Guyana and the selfless work and sacrifices they have made for the betterment of their fellow citizens in a wide variety of sectors.
According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), under the David Granger administration over the past two years, 51 Guyanese women were conferred with national awards. In 2015, 19 women from a total of 53 received national awards. The Order of Roraima was received by one person; three received the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH); seven received the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA); five received the Medal of Service (MS) and three received the Disciplined Service Medal (DSM).
In October 2016, a total of 32 women received awards; four received the CCH, 14 the AA, 12 the MS and two received the DSM. A total of 86 individuals were conferred with awards. Additionally, 12 groups were conferred with the MS insignia on the occasion of Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary in February, earlier in 2016.

According to the MoTP, recognising the indispensable role that women play in national development is a tangible demonstration of the government’s policy position on gender equality and it is in line with President Granger’s commitment to making Guyana a more equal society. The administration encourages the nomination of Guyanese of all walks of life, across ethnic, religious, geographic and gender lines, who serve with distinction, the release said.
Of the women who were conferred with awards, leading the list is Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who was conferred with the CCH award for her long and outstanding service in administration of the law. Madame Justice Edwards, with an illustrious legal career that commenced in 1988, was sworn in to one of the highest judicial offices in the land on December 16, 2015. She served as an Appeal Court Judge for several years and is now the second woman to be appointed to the position of Chief Justice.
Dr. Enid Denbow, also bestowed with a CCH for her long, dedicated and outstanding service in the field of medicine, is the first and only female Chief Medical Officer within the Health Ministry for several years. Ambassador Audrey Waddell, who currently serves as Director-General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is also a CCH awardee, which she received in recognition of long service with exceptional dedication in the Guyana Foreign Service.
Ambassador Waddell previously served as Guyana’s Ambassador to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), Head of the Chancery at the Guyanese Embassy in Havana, Cuba and as Deputy Chief of Mission at Guyana’s Embassy in Brasilia.
Jaitun Haniff-Persaud, who is the longest-serving confidential secretary to the Speaker of the House, received the Medal of Service Award in 2015. She has been working at the Parliament of Guyana for the past 26 years since Sase Narine was the Speaker of the National Assembly. In addition, Jean La Rose of the Amerindian People’s Association was conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement by the Head of State. La Rose, who is an indigenous Arawak, is recognised as a fierce advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly as they relate to land rights issues.

In addition, Supriya Singh-Bodden, a scientist and the founder of the Guyana Foundation was conferred with the CCH in 2015 for her extensive work with women and youths and in tackling social issues such as suicide and poverty. Another woman, Florine Dalgety, who is considered a pioneer in the education system, was conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) for her long and outstanding service as an educator, especially in the area of science. Dalgety is the co-founder of the Dominion Schools, where she taught for several years. She also served as a Director at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).
On the list of awardees is Marilyn Dewar, an accomplished music teacher and accompanist of the Woodside Choir, who served as Secretary of the Music Teachers’ Association of Guyana for over 20 years, also received the AA. Coming from a long line of talented musicians, Dewar taught music at several senior secondary schools in Georgetown, including Queen’s College, Bishops’ High and Charlestown. The AA was also bestowed on social activist Vanda Radzik, another distinguished Guyanese woman who is well known for her activism, advocacy on environmental issues and her work in the promotion of culture in Guyana.
Former Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly, Lilawattie Coonjah, was also recognised for her efforts and hence she was awarded the Medal of Service. She retired from her position in May 2013, after many years of dedicated service. Like Ms. Coonjah, Esther Charles-Elliot, who served as a health worker at Mashabo Village, Essequibo, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), was also recognised with a Medal of Service award.

Several other Guyanese women who were bestowed with high national honours include Maureen Massiah, who was awarded the CCH, Blanche Duke, Jennifer Ann Ferreira-Dougall, Ingrid Fung, Esther Griffith, Dr Mellissa Abigail Ifill, Gloria Elizabeth Noel, Bissoondai Beniprashad Rayman, Doris Rogers, Wendy Orinthia Rudder, Glenna Spencer and Joycelyn Cleo Patricia Wilson, all of whom were awarded the AA.
Among the women who were conferred with the Medal of Service in 2016 are Gladys Accra, Gloria Britton, the late Ms. Marjorie Charles, Kim Chung, Vivienne Daniels, Nancy Ferreira, Ingrid Forde, Shirley Klass, Alshazi Baksh Ramlakhan and Maureen Lynette Stephenson.
Senior Superintendent in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Maxine Graham and Retired Divisional Commander of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Bernadette Adams, were awarded the Military Service Medal (MSM).