Dear Editor,
A few days ago, we bid farewell to a stalwart of Guyanese politics, Comrade Amna Ally — a woman whose name became synonymous with resilience, unwavering dedication, and unshakable loyalty to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R). For over five decades, she gave her life to this political party, and her contributions will remain etched in the political and social fabric of our nation.
I remember her best in the seat of power, holding the office of General Secretary of the PNC/R with a firm hand and a focused mind. Her leadership was stern, yes — but it was purposeful. It was shaped by the times and the challenges, and she faced both with unmatched grace and grit. She didn’t just practice politics; she taught it.
Not from textbooks or theory, but from experience — through the tough decisions, the long hours, and the fire of real struggle. Only a week ago, she called me and said, “I will be back on my feet, and I will come home, and you must keep me in your prayers.” I held on to those words. I believed them. I prayed. And now, I carry the heartbreak of her passing, wrapped in the strength she left behind.
She taught me how to stand tall in the storm, how to speak when it’s easier to stay silent, and how to lead when it’s hardest. I will never forget those sharp, cussed moments when she pushed me, challenged me — even angered me. But in truth, those were the very moments that molded me. They made me stronger.
Yet, even in honouring her legacy, I cannot ignore the ache. I am hurt by how the party treated her — even in death. After five decades of selfless service, after sacrificing her personal life for the cause, she deserved better. We cannot pretend otherwise. We must not allow this to be the way we treat our heroes.
Today, it is Amna Ally. Tomorrow, it could be any one of us. If we are to honour the legacy of our founder leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, we must not let this party drift into decay and disrespect. We must rise — each of us — in our own little way, and lead. The PNC/R I knew was never in the tragic state it finds itself in today. But we still have a nation to build, and a duty to uphold.
Rest in eternal peace, Comrade Amna Ally. Rise in glory. You will be missed — not just as a leader, but as a mentor, a fighter, and a symbol of strength.
I will definitely miss you, ma’am.
Pt.Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt.(GDF), Mayor
City of Georgetown
“We must not let this party drift into decay and disrespect.”
You are asleep: it has already drifted into decay and disrespect, for decades now, in fact.