Women Empowerment in Guyana speaks volumes of progress under the PPP/C

AS we join with the world to celebrate International Women’s Day today (Sunday March 08, 2015), it is important to reflect on the achievement of women in Guyana, as they have come a long way, through rough roads and passages. One of the major features of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) government, since it took office in 1992, has been programmes, centered on the empowerment and development of women. Commencing with the first female President of the country, Mrs. Janet Jagan, women have moved ahead and there are now more programmes in place to further aid in their development.
This has been a critical intervention at a time when the gender questioning is being highlighted, especially with regard to women’s role in society.
Guyana can now boast of developments with regard to women’s issues, with the population of women in parliament at 33%, a significant increase from 1992, where there was a mere 18.5% of female parliamentarians, in a house of 65 seats.
As such, due to the investments in women capital, Guyana was recently ranked 29th in the world. Whereas, in the Caribbean, the only country that is ahead of Guyana is Grenada, and that is, in terms of percentage composition in the House.
This means that the Guyanese Parliament today has a higher percentage of female parliamentarians than the United States Congress, taking into consideration that the Congress is normally held up as the greatest of all democracies.
Under the leadership of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the first elected position to a woman was given to Janet Jagan in 1951, as a member of the Georgetown Town Council. Also, Mrs. Jagan, together with Jessie Burnham and Jane Phillip Gay in 1953, was the first women ever to be elected in the parliament.
Also, under this administration; the first female minister of government was again Janet Jagan, who served as the Minister of Labour, Health & Housing, from the period 1957-1961. Also the first Chief Justice and the first Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Desiree Bernard, ascertained her position under the PPP government. This is the pattern which has today been set by the current administration for other women to follow.
This government has created an environment where single parent women can today benefit from training to empower themselves, and can access loans to start small business ventures.
In addition to these, there are a number of others that provide opportunities for women, primarily those who are in the vulnerable category, to qualify themselves in skilled areas. These include namely the Women of Worth (WOW) programme and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programmes.
Women in their mid twenties or early thirties are today land and home owners. Where in this country’s history has this ever happened before? Also many women are today taking up employment in areas where only men once dominated, and they are not only taking up the challenge, but are also outperforming the men. Women are now more empowered and are playing leading roles in the development of almost all the sectors, including agriculture, Information and Communication, security, mining, education, health, aviation and construction.
Education is also another area in Guyana, where women have excelled. Many countries in the world would envy the opportunities, rights and independence that women in this country enjoy. While in some countries, young women aren’t allowed to attend school, here in Guyana they are dominating the males in the school system, not only in their numbers but also in academic performance.
What is also important to note is that despite all these changes and empowerment of the Guyanese women, the majority of them still embrace moral and traditional practices, and in my view, this is commendable. These women, who today hold high positions and offices in society, also manage a family life, taking care of their spouses and children.
This government has managed to create a level playing field for all its citizens, and I personally, as a young woman, am proud to be a Guyanese, as I am able to enjoy these rights. I would like to encourage all the other women in this society, both young and old, to become independent, and to empower themselves. It is never too late nor too early to learn. I urge that they take charge of their lives and live their dreams. The only persons who can take these dreams away from you, is yourself. No one else!

SHIVANIE RAMPERSAUD

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