Tribute to Shiela Valerie Holder
October 22, 2011
Sheila Valarie Holder.
Softspoken
Spirited
Gentlee
Passionate
Dignity personified
A quiet lioness - a woman of substance; a true Guyanese patriot.
A woman who had the courage of convictions to take her political
views public and who dedicated her life to better the lives of others.
Indeed, she has touched each of our lives in unique and different
ways.
For some, she is best known for her role as a civil society activist,
for others a consumer rights advocate. In recent years, when others
decided that their economic interests would secure their silence
against this PPP regime, Shiela continued to etch her place as a
principled and fearless voice for the poor and down throdden.
And fearless she is when it comes to changes. She embraced the need
for a new direction in Guyana’s politics with the same conviction with
which she has lived her entire life.
Shiela is no stranger to politics having been engaged in politics for
over …. Years, starting with the WPA, struggling against the PNC
regime and continuing against a PPP regime.
We in the Alliance for Change family were able to observed Sheila’s
persistence in action as she battled the Government on the Pension
Register issues and on the Campaign Finance Bill. Lesser, mediocre
people could not understand her vision as she attempted to pass this
Bill into law to elevate politics in Guyana. Albert Einstein’s words
aptly describe this chapter in Sheila’s struggle: he said ““Great
people have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre
minds.” And violent and nasty it was when the government strangled
her proposal. It then dawned on us what a true gift it was that we had
with us.
We see her and she epitomizes a dignified and suave personality,
exhibiting a motherly aura. However, the minute she senses repression,
the elegant and dignified motherly figure metamorphasises into a
fierce lioness taking on the establishment. Fortunate indeed, we have
been, to have such a freedom fighter with such pedigree in our party.
The Alliance for Change has benefitted vastly from Shiela’s array of
experience as a civil rights activist. Regardless of the swirl of
events, the controversy, the ups and down, she always had time to deal
with the issues with her special touch which always end in a solution
that is best for Guyana. I remember when the Presidential Candidate
was to be selected in 2006, it was Sheila who said to Khemraj and
Raphael, you are big boys now, go in that room and do not come out
until I have a Presidential Candidate and a Prime Ministerial
Candidate. It was Sheila’s vision and leadership and motherly love
for her party and country that created the seed for our rotation
principle for the party’s presidential candidate. The consummate
politician that she is, she knew she was competent enough, skilled
enough, experienced enough and talented enough to be the Presidential
Candidate of the AFC in 2006, but her undying belief that the future
belong to the youths of Guyana, she lead with selfless service.
When Sheila fell ill, many of us though an important chapter in our
history would be suspended while she was in hospital but she being the
ever progressive politician, she instructed, let the campaign
continue. This is a true spirit of her greatness, she has always put
country before party, party before self. A truly selfless politician.
A woman whom I personally admire greatly and will always hold fond
memories of.
Would you join with me in a short prayer for Shiela. Can we all stand and pray.
Dear God, You are good to those who seek you, those who revere your
name. You, who are the only source of health and healing, the spirit
of calm and the central peace of this universe, grant our dear friend
Sheila health, happiness and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Thank you Sheila for your leadership in the most difficult years of
the AFC life to date. You kept us focused, you kept us consistent,
you kept us principled and for that we honour you today.
Our hearts and prayers are with you Sheila and we know you will
recover and be with us as the campaign intensifies.
We take this opportunity to thank her ever caring husband Noel and her
children for loaning Sheila to us to help us
make the right turn for our family and our communities.
Thanks you Shiela for having such a large heart to want to share so
much of yourself for the Guyanese people.
Change is coming to Guyana, Victory is upon us, and in Cheddi Jagan
famous words “History and time are on our side”.
God bless you Sheila and God bless you all here tonight.
