The Ministry of Public Telecommunications, along with the Guyana Post Office Corporation, yesterday held a small ceremony for the inaugural release of commemorative stamps honouring National songwriter and composer, Valerie Rodway.
The stamps, which were released yesterday, commemorate Rodway’s 100th birth anniversary, which was observed on February 12.
At the ceremony, which was held at the National Library, the stamps were unveiled to members of the media. Two songs, which were composed by Rodway, including, ‘Oh Beautiful Guyana’, were performed at the event.
Presenting the feature address was Minister of Public Telecommunica-tions, Catherine Hughes, who applauded Rodway’s compositions, which are symbols of patriotism. “Valerie Rodway was a special person, a trained music teacher, a composer of Jazz, uplifting music, classical and patriotic music. She is best known for composing many of our national songs,” Hughes said.
She went on to say that Rodway has had remarkable achievements throughout her life, along with many other Guyanese women. “I’ve always known that Guyanese women are special, our nation’s history is sprinkled with some very remarkable achievements from some small women who have done great things throughout their lives. We continue to remember them, to celebrate them and their work…which has brought us to where we are today,” Hughes stated.
Hughes related that the teacher and music composer was a Guyanese who never got tired of the beauty of her country. “A true lady to whom everything was a thing of beauty; every sound had a musical note, she wrote about it, she put music to it and in the 1960’s, help[ed] to bring about the period in Guyana’s history when national songs were sung by everyone and all the time,” the minister said.
Rodway’s niece, Carol Fraser, thanked President David Granger for honouring her aunt with the Cacique Crown of Honour, and for having a commemorative stamp created in her honour as well.
Valerie Rodway was born on February 12, 1919, in New Amsterdam. She died in the year 1970.
