Former prime ministerial candidate of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Sheila Holder passed away last evening in the United States of America after a brief period of illness. She was 65.
Holder withdrew from the Prime Ministerial candidacy of the party earlier this year citing concerns about her health.
The AFC in a statement last evening noted that Holder was a patriot who embodied the attributes of grace and service. She was a fierce fighter for a better and unified Guyana and worked tirelessly to promote “change” in her dear Guyana, the party stated.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to (husband) Noel, her children and family in this time of grief. Sheila was the embodiment of dignity, fairness and equality. She was an upstanding citizen and an uncompromised politician and words cannot express how much she will be missed in the party and in Guyana,” a deeply saddened AFC leader Raphael Trotman said.
AFC Presidential Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan said. “I extend on behalf of the Party my deep condolences to Noel and the family. This is the most distressing news we could have gotten about our dear sister and fellow leader. She was a beacon of inspiration for all of us in the party. We take heart that her legacy will live on in the AFC forever and we know she will want us to continue to fight for justice and a better Guyana for all Guyanese. We will honour her life’s work by re-doubling our own work for a better Guyana.”
Described as a homemaker, civil society activist and consumer advocate, Holder played a significant role in the creation of the AFC and along with Ramjattan and Trotman, contributed to the building of the party from its inception, which saw the AFC entering parliament following the last general elections with significant support from the populace.
The mother of three served in many positions prior to her political life. She was once a director of Guyana Stores Ltd, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the Bauxite Industry Development Company Ltd.
In 1995, she was chairperson for the environmental chapter of the Guyana National Development Strategy.
Holder also served in several key positions across the Caribbean region; she was elected a member of the CARICOM-recognized Caribbean Consumers Consultative Committee (CCCC), precursor to the Caribbean Consumers Council, and internationally, as a member of the Global Policy & Campaigns Committee (GPCC) of Consumers International (CI) as the representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Holder entered the National Assembly in 2001 after a merger between the Guyana Action Party and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the latter which she served as an integral member for a number of years. While in
parliament Holder sat on several committees, including the Parliamentary Management Committee, the Committee for the appointment of members of Constitutional Commissions and the Standing Orders Committee.
According to the AFC, Holder along with Trotman and Ramjattan participated in the World Bank seminar on Parliament, Good Governance and Poverty Reduction in Helsinki, Finland, in 2003. It was during this time that she was contracted by the OAS to prepare a study on “Political Party Campaign Financing” in Guyana.
She presented several papers at international conferences including one on “Privatisation of Telecommunications – the Guyana Experience” at the Consumers International Fourth Regional Conference for Latin America & the Caribbean held in Santiago Chile, and has contributed articles to regional and international publications.
In September this year, Holder in a statement announced her withdrawal from the post of prime ministerial candidate of the AFC to undergo medical treatment. She said that she had a condition which required urgent treatment overseas during the most intense period of the 2011 elections campaign.
“While I am withdrawing for health reasons, my doctors are optimistic that I should be well enough to resume my political work in just a few months, I eagerly look forward to that moment,” she said.
Holder was selected to be the running mate for Ramjattan at a special AFC convention that was held last November. Her nomination was seen as significant, given that no woman, apart from the late former President Janet Jagan, had ever been selected to be the Prime Ministerial candidate for a major political party here.
She was later replaced by Trotman, who initially did not contest the position.
A book of condolence will be opened at the party’s head office from 3pm today. Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.
And in a message of sympathy just after midnight, the PPP/C said
“… PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar wishes to express his condolences to the relatives and political colleagues of the late Member of Parliament Sheila Holder.
We are deeply saddened by her passing.
“Ms Holder would be remembered as a determined individual and a persistent advocate of her belief.
“The many years of her service in both the political area and consumer affairs advocacy have impacted the national dialogue and policies.
“All those in the political arena will miss her unique presentations in the National Assembly.
“We wish her relatives and colleagues strength during this period of bereavement.“ (Alva Solomon)
