Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) stalwart, Amna Ally was hailed today as a giant in politics, who served her country selflessly, in and out of Government, in the areas of education, politics, governance, and human and social development.
Ally served as Minister of Social Cohesion then later Minister of Social Protection under the former APNU+AFC Government.
Since her death on Saturday, tributes have been pouring in from all sides of the political aisle, and those tributes continued today at her funeral.
President Irfaan Ali was among those offering tributes today.
Though their politics were different, President Ali said Amna Ally was a sister and friend to him. Today at the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), he remembered her for her service to her country as an educator and politician.
“Her life was one of steady committed service to her community, her students, her party, and her country. She wore many hands over the course of her life – teacher, politician, government minister, and she wore each with selfless service. But perhaps, the hat that fits her most comfortably, was that of a human being who never lost sight in humanity in others even in the heart and the heat of political battle. And trust me, she was in the heart and heat of many political battles,” President Ali said.
The President said her life was not without challenges, but through it all she gave selflessly.
As a veteran politician, Amna Ally served as the General Secretary of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) for a number of years. She served as a member of the PNC Reform for almost 50 years, and resigned last year over concerns about the direction of the party under the leadership of Aubrey Norton.
Norton was absent from the funeral service, but in paying tribute close friend and former Opposition Leader, Joe Harmon said Amna Ally was a woman and a champion of the people.
“Amna Ally was like no other. There is only one Amna Ally there is, and would ever be. Amna Ally encapsulates so much, we hope to be as citizens of this beautiful country. Amna Ally was able to speak to all sides of the political divide, she was able to bring people together, and this is one of the qualities that Brigadier Granger saw in her, when he made her the first and only Minister of Social Cohesion. Because she has that capacity to bring people together, to motivate people to get them to do better,” Harmon said.
He said Amna Ally was a friend like no other, who served with vigor. Noting that she would surely be missed, Harmon said she had to ability to mobilize financial support for the party.
“The party I know will miss Amna. There is no other like Amna. Amna was a machine for raising funds for the party, and this is what helped the party to do its work. This is what helped us in all of the campaigns that we ran,” he said.
At her home, Opposition Member of Parliament, Natasha Singh-Lewis said Ally was her mentor and mother-like figure.
“She has mothered a lot of people. She has done a lot of good for people that she didn’t even know but that was her personality,” Singh Lewis said.
She said it was because of Ally, that she was inspired to join politics.
“I can tell you that I am in politics today because of Amna Ally. And this was her criteria, Natasha, the Muslims in this country need to see one of their own in the highest level of politics. The PNC embodies inclusivity and so, you are that person for us. And so, in 2020, when I entered politics formally, it was at the request of Amna Ally,” Singh-Lewis said.
Tributes also poured in from former General Secretary of the PNCR, Dawn Hasting-Williams, and former City Mayor Ubraj Narine.
Narine said Ally was more than a comrade and friend, who was always there to offer advice and lend a helping hand. He said her contributions to the PNCR were tremendous, and she would surely be missed.
“I know Amna was going through a lot of pain but her contributions towards the People’s National Congress was tremendous. When it comes to fund raising, when it comes to organizing events and meetings, Amna Ally was number one for those things. I will miss the cussing, I will miss her love because she would just done engage you in a heated argument and then call you back and say babes this thing needs to be done,” he said.
Amna Ally was laid to rest this afternoon in her hometown of Rosginol.
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