MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE FROM HON. EDWIN W. CARRINGTON, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) ON THE PASSING OF MRS. VIOLA BURNHAM, O.R., FORMER FIRST LADY OF GUYANA AND VICE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guyana and has the honour to convey to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Guyana, the following message from Hon. Edwin W. Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, on the passing of Mrs. Viola Burnham, O.R., former First Lady of Guyana and Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for Social Development.

    “It is with a deep sense of sadness that we learnt today, of the passing of former First Lady of Guyana, Ms. Viola Burnham, at 72 years of age.

    On behalf of the Caribbean Community, I wish to extend heartfelt sympathies to her bereaved family and the Government and People of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, on the passing of this distinguished Guyanese.

    Mrs. Burnham will be remembered particularly for the many ways in which her work sought to uplift the status of women. In this regard as Guyana’s Vice-President and Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for Social Development, her untiring work and contribution in the fields of Education, Social Development and Culture will always be remembered. So also will her efforts at the empowerment of women in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, through her leadership in the Women’s Revolutionary Socialist Movement (WRSM), and as Founder Member and First Vice-President of the Caribbean Women’s Association (CARIWA).

    The Caribbean Community gives thanks for her life and in honouring her contribution to the development of Guyana and the Caribbean Community, extends its deepest condolences to her family and the Government and People of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.”

The Caribbean Community Secretariat avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana the assurances of its highest consideration.