These are the words of 63-year-old Shirley Edwards, a woman who has relentlessly participated in the political struggle for four decades now and is still active.

This humble, simple and affable woman with five children, 16 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, achieved the milestone of being the fourth woman alive in Guyana, to have had 40 years of unbroken service to the PPP.

A member of the Catholic Church, Ms. Edwards said that at the time of her entry to the PPP, the Church was rabidly hostile to the party. Her fellow parishioners were very bitter about her decision to become a member of the PPP, and because of this bitterness, she was debarred from taking communion for many years.

Her parents at first were apprehensive about her entrance to the political arena, but eventually, they came to respect and appreciate her decision. However, her relatives were terribly hostile to the point of disowning her. They even attempted to prevent her from attending her father's funeral. But the late E.M.G Wilson, a former Minister of Transport in the PPP government during the early 1960s, took her to the funeral, she recalled.

Ms. Edwards had her taste of political victimisation and harassment, with her life being threatened on many occasions, pointing out that she was dismissed from her teaching job on the assumption of the PNC-UF coalition government in 1964 because of her political conviction.

She noted too that during the 80-day strike in 1963, when she was working as a sailor on the Berbice ferry (the only female sailor at the time, she adds with a giggle) she was threatened with her life because she broke the strike, but that did not deter her from persevering in the political struggle.

But how did she handle the pressure of the political struggle, saddled with the disheartening response of her relatives? "I managed because I am a person who once committed to a belief pursues it with complete conviction and determination. The response of relatives never interfered with my commitment to the political struggle."

Speaking on the perception that the PPP is a pro-Indian party, she rejected this outright, adding that as an Afro-Guyanese in the party, she never felt any distinction between Afro and Indo members, and pointed out that over the years, hundreds of Afro-Guyanese have been members of the party

She recalled that when she became a member of the PPP, her Lodge neighbourhood was very hostile to her, but that hostility wore off, and now they respect and hold her in high esteem because of her unswerving dedication to her beliefs.

Asked about her thoughts on the late President, Cheddi Jagan, she replied: "Oh, he is the greatest of all. He was my friend, my teacher, my father, my everything."

But politics have played havoc with her family life too, causing her to become separated from her husband. She related that in the 1970s, her husband was dismissed by the then government and he blamed the association with the PPP for causing him to lose his job. That incident spurred their separation. However, she was quick to point out that she and her children have always remained close.

The veteran female politician reveres Mrs. Janet Jagan. Edwards said the former President and widow of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, was an inspiration in her life.

She also remembers vividly a particular seminar she attended, which opened her horizons on politics. She said that at the seminar, Brindley Benn, a former Education Minister, delivered a lecture on the historical development of communism. This lecture, she said, provided her with a lot of knowledge and made her understand many things in the political field which were unknown to her.

Asked if she has any regrets about becoming involved in the political struggle she said: "Absolutely none." She added that even though the political struggle has been a difficult one, she has found it to be rewarding.

As a Member of Parliament for the past ten years, Ms. Edwards said it has been a challenging, but enjoyable and exciting experience from which she has learnt much. She finds the parliamentary debates, especially, at budget time, particularly exciting and stimulating.

What advice would she give to her female colleagues? "I would advise them to remain committed to their beliefs," she said.

Ms. Shirley Edwards was born and grew up in the working-class environment of Wortmanville of humble parentage, but at age ten, moved to Lodge where she has been residing ever since. She attended the Freeburg Primary School and Tutorial High School where she obtained her Senior Cambridge certificate.

She worked as a sailor and taught for two years. She joined the party on January 24, 1963, and served in the youth and women's arms of the party, the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), and the Women's Progressive Organisation (WPO), respectively. She also studied Political Science in Eastern Europe and travelled extensively in many countries in Eastern Europe. Currently, she is a member of the Central and Regional Committees of the party.

The People's Progressive Party (PPP) recently acknowledged the services of this long-standing female stalwart.

The PPP said: "The party's Executive Committee acknowledges her contribution to the struggle for democratic governance and women's liberation in Guyana. During her years of association with the party through the various struggles, Ms. Edwards endured the hardships of the dictatorship era. The Party mostly admires her courage, strength and determination to persevere during those difficult times which labels her as a 'true loyalist’."