Margaret Ackman

Ackman was one of the founding members of the socialist People's National Congress Reform and, from 1969 to 1980, she represented PNCR in the Guyanese parliament.^[2] In June 1953, Ackman was elected the president of Women's Progressive Organisation's permanent committee.^[3] Fondly referred as "Madam Pandit", she was also an assistant general secretary in the party and president of Business & Professional Women's Club of Georgetown.^[4][5]

After Patricia Limerick resigned from the Parliament, Ackman was made the government's whip, a post she held till 1973 before being appointed parliamentary secretary in Prime Minister Forbes Burnham's office (1973–80).^[2][6]

On the insistence of a PRO of People's Temple Cult, Ackman had visited Jonestown just a few days before the mass suicide took place.^[7] She died on 29 August 2013 at her residence in New York City and is survived by her three children.^[2] Her sons, Keith Scott and Gurney Ackman, became the leader of the National Front Alliance^[8][9] and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War respectively.