GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Former Guyana president, Janet Jagan, died at the Georgetown Public Hospital early yesterday. Government sources said she died after suffering an abdominal aneurism.

Jagan, 88, was the only woman and fifth person to hold the highest political office in the country.

She was the wife of former president, Cheddi Jagan, who was president from 1992 until 1997.

The former first lady was appointed as prime minister following her husband's death in 1997. She then served as president, having led the People's Progressive Party (PPP) to victory in the 1997 election. She resigned from the post in August 1999 due to ill health.

Honours

A co-founding member of the PPP, Janet Jagan also served in various political and government capacities over the years. She was also the recipient of many local and international honours, including the Order of Excellence, the nation's highest honour; Woman of Achievement, award from the University of Guyana; and the Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women's Rights, awarded by UNESCO.