Amna Ally, the former Minister of Social Cohesion and Social Protection under the former APNU+AFC coalition government, and a longstanding member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) was on Tuesday laid to rest.
The funeral service for the political icon, which was held at the The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands in Georgetown, saw several senior Government officials, members of parliament and representatives from the diplomatic community gathering to pay their respect to longstanding politician.
Speaking at the funeral service was Head of State President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali who remembered the late politician as one who did her job effortlessly, without being bias and malicious towards her opponents.
“I will never forget beneath the formal tone and political armor was a woman who understood that politics is not war and that even when we disagree, sometimes profoundly, we do not have to be this way. Amna Ally knew the difference between opposing someone’s views and scorning their humanity. She did not confuse ideological divergence with personal disdain,” President Ali said.
“She could, with conviction, call out what she considered flawed arguments or poor policies. Yet return moments later with a smile or a story that reminded everyone that politics is not all that we are,” President Ali further expressed.
“She never lost her wariness. Her political fire never consumed her capacity for human connection. And while she would be sharp, at times acidic and combative, her sharpness never daunted the cruelty.”
The Head of State also expressed his condolences to the family of the late stalwart. Ally was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after falling ill with a heart ailment.
This publication understands that she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and that up to Saturday morning, was in a critical condition before she passed away on Sunday, at the age of 77.
In March of this year, Ally made waves after resigning from the PNC. In her resignation, she accused PNC leader Aubrey Norton of being unfit to lead the party and accused the leadership of, among other things, mistreating the women in the party.
It was not the first time Ally has publicly spoken out against Norton’s leadership. Last year during the party’s internal elections she had accused Norton of being an undemocratic leader, who undermined the party structure and weakened the party’s Central Executive Committee.
A teacher by profession, Ally was a long-standing member of the PNC. She is a former Executive and General Secretary of the party and was first elected to parliament on the PNC slate in 1985. She served as Minister of Social Cohesion and then Minister of Social Protection, between the years 2015 and 2020.
Discover more from INews Guyana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
