My tribute to a true stalwart – Sandra Adams made her contribution

Jan 04, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Sandra Adams was a champion in her own right. She has left an indelible mark on the local political landscape, specifically Linden. Sandra Adams will be remembered for her steadfastness and unrelenting activism.
I first met Sandra when I joined the PNCR’s youth arm. Sandra was already a vibrant member of the organization. I came to know her as one of Region Ten’s leading youth voices of the movement. While I was advancing to national leadership positions in the movement Sandra was transitioning out to the adult arm of the party. However, her transition never truly created political space between us; in fact it might have probably shrunk that space as we served the party and the nation on many similar fronts.
If I am to choose some adjectives to describe Sandra I would define her as opinionated – always had her perspective on an issue and never hesitated to sound it out, regardless of how others might have felt about it.
Willing – She was always ready to serve even if she was already too heavily tasked. The comrade was also tough/thick skinned – can take a punch (not literally but in political terms) and still battle on even if it is perceived that she was not winning. She was one who exemplified the concept that politics is not for “thin skinned people” who take comments personally.
Criticisms by others rarely dampened her drive or caused her to disengage those whose comments did not coincide with her views or reflected her opinion. She projected an anger that was short-lived, a smile that was almost permanent and a voice that was almost demanding but yet inviting.
When you got to know Sandra Adams you began to truly understand that politics is really a “big woman’s” or a “big man’s” profession.
I would also describe Sandra Adams as someone who was also very forthright and jubilantly presumptuous. Sandra and I served in the National Assembly during the Eighth Parliament, under the leadership of then Opposition Leader, the late Hugh Desmond Hoyte, then leader of the PNCR.
I recalled that on my first day in the Parliament, when everyone was extending congratulations to me for being one of the youngest newcomers to the Parliament, Sandra approached me with a beaming smile. Her face was lit up in a taunting way and when she got close to me she smiled even wider and said, “Don’t feel you is the only MP who ever come to this House in yuh 20’s yuh know; I come hay when I was in meh 20’s too”.
I knew she served in the Seventh Parliament, but on that first day the thought of “youngest MP or anything of that nature was never in my thinking. I smiled and Sandra unleashed a wicked laugh and remarked “Ah know yuh didn’t know”.
I responded by asking, her how could she believe I did not know she served in the last parliament. She laughed again and said, “Ah never seh suh, yuh know. Ah seh yuh didn’t know I was in meh 20’s too”. At that point I knew I lost the battle.
We talked for a while longer as she tried to furnish me names of other MPs who came to the National Assembly “in day 20s”.
During our many years of active membership in the PNCR, Sandra and I would have attended many congresses, General Council Meetings, Central Executive Committee Meetings and other important committee meetings of the party. During those meetings there was a pool of young people who were sure to bring matters of concern to the floor. Among those young people was Sandra Adams.
This was one thing we had in common, that desire and passion to address issues on the congress floor, even if the issues were not popular or were uncomfortable for others. Sandra wasted no time to speak for “Region Ten” she also spoke against some things when she felt the need to do so.
Yes, she was controversial at times, but regardless of the controversy she might have started, she stayed on her mission. Her desire to work for Linden and promote the interest of Region Ten was without question. We may differ on her method but her heart and desire, I believe, were in the right place.
Regardless of how Sandra Adams was perceived her passing is no doubt a great loss to the PNCR. Her knowledge of party work, her familiarity with Region Ten and her “go getter” attitude will be difficult to match. She was a true stalwart of the PNCR. She has been knocked down many times but got back up every time.
Today, my heart aches because I know that this time there is no getting up; this time there is no second time; this time there is no controversy to stoke new activism; this time there is no wide and taunting presumptuous talk; this time there is no “point of order” to be heard on the floor.
It is difficult to speak of Sandra Adams in the past tense, and it will be difficult for the PNCR to forget her contribution. Sandra has surely made her mark on the PNCR and by extension Guyana. Her work in Region Ten and more specifically, Linden, demonstrates her ability.
Linden has lost a true fighter, strong advocate and leader. I am happy to have had the opportunity to know Sandra Adams; she was remarkable in her own way, she led in her own way, she served in her own way, she lived life her way. Yes, she did it her way. I am sorry that the last conversation I had with her was during the last PNCR congress in 2016.
Sincere condolences to her two sons, her sister Minister Valerie Patterson, and her entire family. She has transitioned to a place where life is much greener, a place where there is no more sorrow, pain, frustration, stress or trouble.
Her passing should be a point for reflection and celebration for a life well lived. Sandra has made her earthly contributions. God has bigger plans for her! May her soul rest in peace.
Yours Sincerely
Lurlene Nestor

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