Founding member and past president of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), Sheila Chapman yesterday passed away at the age of 82.
Chapman, the mother of Alliance for Change co-founder Raphael Trotman and the wife of retired Justice Donald Trotman passed away after suffering a brief period of illness.
A statement from the GAWL hailed her for her contributions to the legal fraternity and her work as a women and children rights activist.
The association said Chapman unselfishly shared her time and knowledge with new lawyers and made sure all women who joined the profession were warmly welcomed.
“She joined the profession at a time when there were few women lawyers and sought to ensure that all women who joined the profession were warmly welcomed… She mentored many young lawyers, especially women lawyers.”
Chapman, who hailed from New Amsterdam, Berbice had championed women’s and children’s rights and served on many committees and participated in many consultations that led to the enactment of progressive legislation that ensured that women’s rights are human rights.
“In this regard she attended the United Nation International Women’s Conference in Beijing, China in 1995 [and] provided valuable advice for the content of the children’s legislation that came on stream in 2009,” the GAWL said.
It was noted that during her lifetime she worked and represented the association in many of its outreach programmes and represented the association for a number of years on the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Advisory Committee.
“She also participated in several projects undertaken by GAWL, including constitutional education projects, and willingly gave of her time to make presentations to Non-Governmental Organisa-tions. Wherever she went she ensured that GAWL was well represented.”
While expressing condolences to Chapman’s immediate family, GAWL said she has left the association with many cherished memories. “Her court stories were legendary. She was indeed wonderful to be around.”
Chapman in 2015 and 2019 was awarded for her sterling contributions for over forty years of practice in the legal field.
Former Minister of Education and member of the GAWL, Priya Manickchand in a Facebook post said “Sheila was amongst the early set of women who made law their profession. At that time she would have been amongst only a few. She was always pleasant and chatty and was always very involved in extracurricular activities. May she rest in peace and may her family and friends find comfort in fond memories of her.”
