Joyce Hoyte hailed as “an exemplar of a woman”

Former Frist Lady Joyce Hoyte

Two days after her passing at the Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, tributes continue to pour in for former first lady Mrs Joyce Hoyte from politicians and Guyanese in the diaspora. Mrs. Hoyte, wife of the late former president Hugh Desmond Hoyte, has been described by many in both the political and social spheres as ” a lady” who represented and petitioned for the needs of all Guyanese both as first lady and afterwards.

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Robert Corbin, said Mrs Hoyte lived a long and productive life, and described her as a ” bulwark of support to the former president and Leader of the Opposition, Desmond Hoyte.” Corbin noted that Mrs Hoyte’s contribution to Guyana cannot be measured, as despite the many tragedies in her life, after the death of her daughters following an accident on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway in 1985, “she showed great fortitude and resilience, and I am grateful for the contributions she made,” he told the Guyana Times International on Tuesday.

Brigadier (ret) David Granger, a stalwart in the PNCR for many years, said the passing of the former first lady has saddened many. He noted that while Mrs Hoyte, as she was familiarly called, was not a celebrity as the other first ladies who came before and after her, “she had a very strong personality and dedicated her life to serving the people of Guyana.” Granger stated that during the last years of her life, Mrs Hoyte committed her time to preserving the legacy of her husband through the lecture series, ‘The Hugh Desmond Hoyte Memorial Lecture Series’ held annually since his death. “This was a unique move by Mrs Hoyte, as there is no such system in the country that seeks to do same.

“She rose to the occasion and did it herself… while it may seem a personal commitment, but I see it as a public duty.” He told this publication.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Donald Ramotar, described Mrs Hoyte as follows: “She was a very dignified woman who represented our country very well during the period she was first lady. She will certainly be missed by all.” Ramotar expressed condolences on behalf of the PPP/ C administration to the relatives, friends and political colleagues of the former first lady.

Everall Franklin of the Guyana Action Party (GAP) said his party and the country alike are saddened by the death of Mrs Hoyte, and he noted that it is ironic that many of the distinguished persons within our society are dying at such an alarming rate. “She was a distinguished person, her personality shone”, he told this publication. He expressed condolences on behalf of his party, noting that the outstanding work done by Mrs Hoyte would not be forgotten.

Member of Parliament (MP) of the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson, like the other politicians, noted that the death of Guyana’s former first lady is sad, but he described Mrs Hoyte as “a pillar of society”. Patterson told this publication that the most outstanding thing about the late Mrs Hoyte was that she displayed great strength and character despite the many obstacles that faced her over the years. “She was like a mother to her country.”

Prior to her death on February 14, Mrs Joyce Hoyte had been hospitalised at the Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for some time, before being discharged and then readmitted.

The late President Desmond Hoyte passed away in 2002. Following his death, the former first lady remained indoors, becoming somewhat secluded.

But what has been described as the most difficult era of Mrs Hoyte’s life was deemed by many as a test of God, which was endured with much faith, fortitude and courage.

In 1985, the Hoytes’ two daughters, Maxine and Amanda, were killed in an accident on the Linden / Soesdyke Highway. While many thought that the death of her children, followed by the death of her husband in 2002, would have plunged the charismatic Joyce Hoyte into total depression, she persevered, rising to the challenges before her, maintaining the standards that she was best known for over the years. “She was an exemplar of a woman”, one man told this newspaper. “She has made us all proud”, another declared.