Latest update January 26th, 2025 5:38 AM
Varshnie Singh entitled to First Lady’s pension
Pull Quote… “If this is the disdain with which Jagdeo and Nanda Gopaul of the Office of the President would treat her, how would they treat the ordinary Guyanese woman?” Ramjattan
The woman who was presented to the nation and world leaders as Guyana’s First Lady for eight years is entitled to a pension as is the case with the widows– Doreen Chung, Joyce Hoyte and Janet Jagan.
AFC Presidential Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan
This is according to Alliance for Change Presidential Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan, who said that according to Hindu rites Varshnie and President Bharrat Jagdeo were married and that the registration was merely a formality to conform with the local laws.
“If she was my sister I would have gone up to him and put a good cut ass on him,” Ramjattan said, adding that it is the thing for a Hindu brother to do.
Ramjattan added, “If this is the disdain with which Jagdeo and Nanda Gopaul of the Office of the President would treat Varshnie, how would they treat the ordinary Guyanese woman?”
Dr Nanda Gopaul, the Permanent Secretary, in the Office of the President on Friday evening had released the names of the First Ladies who had received pensions and how much.
According to Ramjattan, even if one were to look at the amended marriage laws then it would be clear that even in a common-law relationship where a couple lives together for a period of more than five years then the woman is entitled to some benefits.
He said that Varshnie Singh was recognized as the Guyana’s First Lady for several years and as such should be entitled to a First Lady’s pension.
Gopaul had released the salaries received by Former Presidents and First Ladies amidst swirling controversy over the pension package Mr Bharrat Jagdeo will receive when he demits office following the November 28 polls.
However, the list omitted Varshnie Singh, who served as First Lady while married to Jagdeo. Jagdeo became President in 1999; the couple separated in 2007. Ms Singh, who has since adopted her maiden name, said the marriage was not registered.
In addition, the list released by the Office of the President also omits Mrs Yvonne Hinds, the wife of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who served as First Lady from March-December, 1997 when he served as President.
The list states that in December 3, 2004, Mrs. Joyce Hoyte (wife of former President Desmond Hoyte), received $87,143. Following the passage of the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act Mrs. Hoyte received $347,395 from 2006. In 2007, she received $378,660; in 2008, $489,468; and in November 2010, she got $543,543.
The Office of the President said Mrs. Janet Jagan received $125,867 per month in 2000. From October 1, 2006 she received $729,529 per month. In addition, the Office of the President said she received a salary of $137, 938 in March 2009 as legislator, and ex-president $876,692.
Former President Arthur Chung received, from October 1, 2006 $729,529 per month, with the last amount being paid in June 2008 to the tune of $1,085,427 per month.
His widow, Mrs Chung, received a widow’s pension of $542,714 up to August 2009, the Office of the President said.
The Office added that they were also entitled to motor vehicles and drivers, a gardener, payment of utility bills (electricity/telephone/water), payment for security at their residence or the provision of security personnel, payment of maids, payment for m
edical expenditures, payment of an Annual Vacation Allowance for Ex-President
President Bharrat Jagdeo and Varshnie on their wedding day July 26, 1998
and Spouse, and duty-free concession for motor vehicles.
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Who could have imagine this innocent looking man has grown to be an disrespectful cuss bird. Something is wrong wit Bar Rat.
She deserves a pension MR EDITOR and the BHATTYRAT deserves none.
I am not sure how to put this! Is this sister “an Ex-First Lady”? If she is then they will have to do an ammenment so that she can qualify.
Reduce his emoluments and pay the suffering woman….this is Guyana’s shame.
That cut ass is coming, make no mistake about that… I sure hope he gets it while hes still young so he can feel the blows.
I rather like the response from presidential candidate Ramjattan: “If this were my sister I would put a good cut ass on him”. After all Varshnie suffered terrible abuses at the hands of her husband, president Jagdeo.
Ramjattan’s response has echoes of Michael Dukakis, U.S. presidential candidate in 1988. Dukakis was asked a simple question: If someone raped and killed your wife and daughter, what would you do? Dukakis gave a cold, legalistic answer: “I will leave it to the police”. Millions of people wanted to hear a candidate capable of emotion, anger etc. He should have said something like: “If I can get hold of the rapist/killer, I would blow his brain out”. This cold answer alienated millions of voters.
In most countries of the world, common law marriages are recognized just as legal (registered) marriages, And are accorded the same protections.
As much as I want to back my girl Varshnie ,I think she did nothing whilst considering her self Jagdeo wife. .She should have made sure papers were sign, whether you turn it or twist it.
Yes it is wrong for him to treat her that way but what else you expect from some one like that.All I can say is that I hope allot of other women read her story and learn that you have to safeguard yourself since love can be blind.
Sad that such a handsome couple had to end up in such a hateful situation….Bharrat has gotten so much off tax payers backs and does not wish his ex-wife well…..pure vindictiveness greed…..TIME WILL TELL
jagadoe, treated this woman with total contempt and malice.
no where in the civilized world would he have gotten away with it.
only in guyana this kinda of crap goes on under the peepeepee.
and tarman got the audacity to say AFC and APNU don’t have
moral authority to lead guyana. that’s eye pass to the highest extent.
I would like for our “Champion of the Earth” to commnent on Ms Varshnie Singh non-entitlement towards her rightful pension as a former first lady.
Varshnie during her tenure as Guyana’s First lady served well for years and was internationally recognised for doing do.
Please Mr. “Champion of the Earth” shed some light here.
The People of Guyana should demand that Ms. Singh be paid her Pension as is mandated in the Laws of Guyana.
The issue of the marriage not being registered is a outright diversion tactic and Ms. Singh should not be afraid to speak out on the apparent settlement shoved on her.
As far as Womens right is concerned, i would like to see the respective organisations speak out on this issue and truly fight for and defend the rights of people like Ms. Varshnie Singh.
Ms. Varshnie Singh rightfully deserves her pension having served in the capacity of Guyana’s First Lady, which is enshrined in our Constitution and CANNOT be dienfranchised simply because of Jagdeo’s bitterness and personal vendetta.
Dem Boys seh what an insult to womanhood in Guyana by someone who is suppose to know better. Tells you how he views women rights. I couldn’t really believe at this level one can be so culpable and disrespecting towards the rights of another person.
Am I to take that Bar- Rat was acting by nature. What better example do you Guyanese men have in him.Marry them gal,use them then DUMP them like garbage.
First to begin with how can a Head of State marry in a semi official manner.Was this some kind of convenience.
Any self respecting parent would take offense at this. Where is the honor and dignity we expect for our daughters gone.
Under the laws in Guyana common law spouse is also entitled to benefits thanks to Burnham. Dem boys seh yo mean even this did not apply. Was there some other arrangement.
Or he took all in his pension package. For all I remember all past Presidents in Guyana were married properly,never divorced and their wives accorded the benefits of First ladies.
This is one of the few exceptions.Take note Dem boys seh there is something fishy about this whole thing.
Facing each other, but looking away from each other ! Could gave been a lovely picture if they were “looking” in each other’s eyes.
The people who were / are entitled to Presidential pension packages are : Mr. and Mrs. Chung, Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyte, Dr. and Mrs. Jagan, Mr. and Mrs. Hinds and Mr. and Mrs. Jagdeo.
Jagdeo have no spouse other than the bee’s them that already rich, so why is he claiming for allowance, this man have no moral value, that girl deserve a pension like every other first lady and jadgeo should have been kick out of office since he lie to the nation with a fake marriage when he dam right now he don’t love woman The people of Guyana allow too much from jagdeo and he use it to their disadvantage
lol ——- yes Ramjattan , he need a cut xxxx in he tail!
Mr RAMJATTAN, YOU SHOULD KNOW IN YOUR POSITION THAT Mr. HINDS WAS NEVER THE PRESIDENT OF GUYANA.
HE WAS HOWEVER THE ACTING PRESIDENT.
IT IS A SHAME THE WAY YOU TRY TO PUT THINGS TO THE GUYANESE PEOPLE AND HIDE THE FACTS.
ABOUT VARSHNIE, YOU SHOULD NOT SAY THINGS WITHOUT ALL THE FACTS.
THERE IS MUCH MORE THAN MEETS THE EYES
I WOULD VOTE AFC IF Mr TROTMAN WAS HEADING, WITH YOU THERE NOT A CHANCE.
YOU SHOULD ASK Mr. RAMESH MARAJ .
AS THE Dr. EVIL WOULD SAY eh eh eh eh eh eh.
Doreen Cheung and Joyce Hoyte were legally married to their spouses.
he is really vindictive to all that oppose him, including the woman he once called his wife….
Where are the stats Desmond Hoyte?
its only fair
total nonsense
I did state that The Jagdeo’s wedding was according to the ‘HINDU’s’ religion.I did say to attack the President about his wedding was an attack on HINDU’S.And yes,i do believe that she is entitled to her RIGHTS as first lady.Remember that Mr Ramjattan was one who said that they were not legally married.If OP had said that she was entitled to the first lady rights,would Ramjattan been opposed to that?Remember that my take is that Miss Varshnie is entitled to her first lady rights & i honestly feel that some people would search for reasons to oppose everything that OP favours.
If Bharrat is to get married again will his legal wife also entitle to a pention? Ramjattan answer that. They are no longer husband and wife so she is not entitle to that. The woman has not said anything since thay were seperated, why are you using it to win votes.
Were you thinking before you wrote this? Bharrat got less than a month to be president, or you know something we don’t, what difference does it make if he gets married again. You guys got your head so buried in the sand when anyone comments about ‘your precious pressy’. This guy is stating the facts, he don’t have to state this to WIN VOTES….it’s a FACT, why the government think they should include and exclude who they want to receive a pension just to be vindictive. If Varshnie was your sister, you would be singing a different tune. Fact remains, she was a first lady and you can’t change that.
DhanoV,
I would like to take the liberty of answering the question in your post “weather if Jagdeo remarries his new wife gets a pension” Well the answer is both yes and no. Yes if he remarries before November 28th 2011 and no if he remarries after November 28, 2011. But based on your question I am assuming that you are still under the influence.
Just look at him…de man kinda scared…like the de fuss time he hugging a woman…He not dancin…that looks like an embrace!
The earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.
I think he is shy!!! LOL
It is a shame she should be entitled to some pension as she served as first lady for sometime. I am disappointed the Guyana’s press lets him get away with this.
Ramjattan is just speaking the truth so let it be, speak on brother i love it.
It strikes me that the first date given for a pension paid to Mr. Arthur Chung was October 1, 2006 is this the first sum that was ever paid even though he was was out of office since the late 70s or 1980 at the latest.
With regards to Ms Varshine Singh I support the fact that she is entitled to a pension as she certainly served as First Lady of Guyana and with distinguished patriotism for her work with Kids First Charity and on the local and international stages.
In my humble opinion what occurred on July 26 1998 in the presences of God and man (The invited guest) was the joining in holy matrimony the lives of Ms. Singh and Jagdeo. However with the absence of any documented proof that the marriage was not registered, weather by an omission on the part of the marriage officer (a crime under the laws of Guyana) or by design, or by direction for the removal of the record from the books of the registrar (a crime also under the laws of Guyana) the guest in attendance were invited to a wedding and the left ceremony with the conviction that a marriage had occurred between Ms. Singh and Jagdeo and they were husband and wife henceforth.
In regards to the treatment that this wonderful daughter, who brought healing to many lives though her work at Kids First and as the First Lady of Guyana and beyond. It must be remembered that at the direction of Jagdeo she was ejected from the National Stadium, had her state provide cars withdrawn, was put through the ringer to get assistance from the Ministry of Health in relation to the work of Kids First Charity that provided hope for so many children of Guyana and now to be told that she is not entitle to a pension is a national disgrace.
In light of the above, the Red Thread Organization and every other woman’s group and every right thinking Guyanese should go to the polls on November 28th 2011 and express their feeling on this matter.
Kaieteur News!De best news paper with de professionals.
Isn’t there a law that says that a marriage must be registered within 14 days before it can become legal ? Isn’t the marriage officer the real culprit here?Is there a penalty for not filing the registration?
Is this man really a lawyer these two were living together for a number of years regardless if they were married legally or not.; However they are seperated and that’s the end to the relationship.
What I would like to know if Mr Ramjattan were to divorce his wife before he dies
will she be able to collect a widows pension?
OR EVEN A PENSION BASED ON MR RAMJATTAN’S SALARY?
This comment is for Khemraj Ramjattan: Try to rise above the gutter, and act in a presidential manner. Why use the language of abuse? Are you not mindful of the killing of women by their partners, the senseless killing of men by other men, either drunk or single-mindedly intent on tiefing? You need to lead from in front, eschewing the language of abuse and violence.
I think all of u who write a comment here should mind your own buisness; Bharat will be the pass now look for the present who will run guyana and see what he or she will do for u country(sorry guyana don´t have she is only HE) ..
Ramjattan can’t score on important issue so now he is using Jagdeo’s ex.
how many other lies has this man bharrat told this nation! if u were living home with the woman in the state hose be a man and say you were livung home!
This man and his government must be judge on his record.
this shows the vindictiveness of BhaRAT.
“According to Ramjattan, even if one were to look at the amended marriage laws then it would be clear that even in a common-law relationship where a couple lives together for a period of more than five years then the woman is entitled to some benefits”. I am in no way saying the alledge treatment of Ms. Singh by the President is right. But then again, Guyanese are complaining about the pension the President would receive once he leaves office, at the expense of tax-payers; are these same tax payers wililng to pay a pension to his ex-wife as well? Additionally, Ramjattan should do a little more research and educate us on the exacts rights to benefits someone in Ms. Singh’s position should be entitled to. Give us facts and not just generalized statements….