– Mahaica community hurt the most, says WPO President Indra Chandarpal
MORE than 200 persons, including President Donald Ramotar; PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee; and President of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), Mrs Indra Chandarpal, paid their final respects to former educator and stalwart of the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic, Mrs. Anoopwattie Veeren, who was cremated yesterday at the Good Hope Crematorium, having died last Friday at the age of 68, after falling ill on October 18.

President of the Women’s Progressive Organisation, Mrs Indra Chandarpal, told the Guyana Chronicle at the cremation site that both the community of Mahaica and the PPP as an organisation have lost a valuable member.
Mrs Chandarpal said that based on the tributes and testimonies given by persons, including President Ramotar and General Secretary Clement Rohee, at the home of the now deceased stalwart it is indeed evident that the comrade did inspire and touched the lives of many.
She said Veeren had nurtured a big group which was established in the community of Mahaica by the PPP, and that hundreds of young people in the area have also lost a mentor, because it was the very comrade who was instrumental in setting up the Rising Star Youth Group in the community. That youth group was able to make it to the stage of the National Cultural Centre, where they were given the opportunity to dramatise.

Mrs. Anoopwattie Veeren had also served as Chairperson of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council, and had been the local board guardian who had also been seen assisting the elderly and the young in the community.
She would, from time to time, make herself available to assist pensioners to obtain their pension books and birth certificates, where applicable. She would also assist whenever the services of a Justice of the Peace were required, since she was a commissioned officer. Her home was open on Sundays to members of the public, for whom she provided those services.

Mrs Chandarpal told the Chronicle that Mrs Veeren had also been responsible for educating close to 300 young people from her community at lessons which she held.
The last public event the PPP stalwart had attended was the birth anniversary celebration of Former President Janet Jagan, which was held at the Umana Yana in mid-October.

(By Leroy Smith)