ATTORNEY-at-law Charlyn Artiga has broken the age-old tradition which allowed only men to be at the helm of the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam for 27 years. She has been elected as its first female president to serve the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Over the years, powerful men who once ruled within the business sector, medical domain, and the legal fraternity amongst other professions locally remained at the helm, steering the ship into uncharted waters which brought changes in the lives of countless families and communities.

But history has been created, and the petite President Artiga, a former magistrate, believes that one can achieve all things. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them,” she posited. Artiga took the mantle from Past President Noland France. under whose stewardship the Club was able to start up a number of projects, including access to potable water for pupils, and the installation of handwashing facilities at schools within the Berbice County.

Prior to this position, she joined the Rotarian family in 2013, and created history back then by being one of the first females to be inducted as a member of the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam. Her welcome into the fold at the time was historic, as the Club had been a male-dominated organisation for over two decades.

According to her, the Rotarian family has helped her tremendously to be modest and balanced, despite her sometimes hectic professional life. As a Rotarian, the onus is on members to contribute financially, and it is her belief that giving within one’s means and within one’s value brings as much joy as though the giver was the recipient.

“Knowing that our gift could multiply or change someone’s life in a way that makes the world a better place is just an added bonus to giving,” she said.

During her formative years, Charlyn grew up in Sheet Anchor Village in East Canje. She attended the All Saints Primary School, New Amsterdam (Multilateral) Secondary, and finally President’s College, at which latter institution she wrote her CSEC and ‘A’ Level examinations. Her desire to study law was birthed during her tenure at the prestigious senior secondary school at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.

However, due to financial constraints, the pursuit of the law programme was temporarily set aside, and in 2001 she pursued and completed a Diploma in Accountancy at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, even as she shuttled between part-time and full time jobs. During 2005, Artiga applied and successfully completed the Bachelors of Laws Degree Programme. Her being among the top 25 students paved the way for her gaining entry into the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad to read for the Legal Education Certificate.

Following her studies in Trinidad, she returned to Guyana in 2010, and was fortunate to secure a position as Junior Legal Adviser at a Private Company. She quick to reminisce that it was not how she had envisaged her practice of law would be. “I wanted to be more active; I needed to make sound legal arguments in a courtroom. After six months, a greater door opened. I grabbed it; I became an associate at Britton, Hamilton and Adams law firm in Georgetown. My tenure there allowed me to gain much of my courtroom experiences.”

After a year, she boldly returned to Berbice to open her private practice, while still remaining affiliated to the law firm. In December 2014, she was appointed a temporary Magistrate. This position allowed her to preside over the Whim, Mibicuri and No. 51 Magistrate Courts within the Corentyne Magisterial district. According to Ms Artiga, as a Magistrate, she served as a public servant, and carried out her duties with respect for the people. Nevertheless, her utmost task was to preserve the confidence that society still has in the Judicial System.