First Couple splits amicably
Kaieteur News
April 17, 2007
President Bharrat Jagdeo and First Lady Varshnie have agreed to a divorce following nine years of marriage.
According to statements issued separately by the Office of the President and the Office of the First Lady, the two have decided to end the marriage because they “have grown apart over the years.”
“It is an amicable parting, and we feel this is the best course for us as we both wish to find happiness and have families of our own in the future,” the Office of the President stated.
The two made it clear that the marriage was a private matter, and so, too, is the divorce.
“We hope that you can understand and respect our decision in what is essentially a private matter. We wish to thank all those who have offered their support at this time. We intend to continue to serve Guyana in our individual ways,” the joint statement noted.
In the statement from the Office of the First Lady, the First Lady said that it has been an honour and privilege for her to serve Guyana in the capacity of First Lady.
“Heartfelt thanks to everyone in Guyana and overseas for the kindness shown to me and for supporting my work, especially my family. I hope you can understand and respect not only this decision, but the desire to keep our personal lives just that, personal. It is an amicable parting, and we feel this is the best choice for us as we both wish to find love and happiness and have families of our own one day,” the First Lady noted in her statement.
“I intend to continue serving Guyana wherever I am, in particular with Kids First Fund, the Citizens' Advice Bureau, and by building the first charitable children's hospital in the country with the Bassoo Foundation,” she added.
According to the statement, the President is supportive of the work of the First Lady.
President Jagdeo grew up in Unity on the East Coast of Demerara, and on July 26, 1998, he married Varshnie Singh, who grew up a few villages away, at Enmore.
Some two years later, he became President, but there have been public suppositions that the relationship between the two had gone cold, since they hardly appeared in the public together.
Last Wednesday, the President promised that in two weeks' time the public would get a definitive word on the status of their relationship.