(QUOTE) ‘Now we are seeing at every level of the educational system girls and women are at the forefront. We have come a long way but our journey has not yet ended’-President Ramotar.
The Women Progressive Organistation (WPO) yesterday celebrated international women’s day at the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House) under the theme: “Unity, Equality and Social Progress.”

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

President Mr. Donald Ramotar, expressed his appreciation to all women and recognises their fight against all the odds to reach where they are today. He highlighted that “now we are seeing at every level of the educational system girls and women are at the forefront. We have come a long way but our journey has not yet ended”.
In an exclusive interview, Mrs. Indra Chandarpaul explained that “WPO has been the first organistaion in the country that started to celebrate International Women’s Day. The first celebration occurred at the same venue in 1957 which was hosted by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan. We have decided to focus on our grassroot women in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) because they do not get a chance to be involved, since they are the ones that have been doing most of the work for us in their respective communities, they are the foot soldiers of the PPP”.
“In the past, women lived under a fourth terrain, that is the one of men, which is no longer so in our present society, since our women have now become more career oriented. We find their husbands at home caring for the children and cooking the food” said Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

PPP General Secretary, Mr Clement Rohee reiterated that our women have come a far way in society but still the journey has now begun. He said: “Domestic violence and single parenting are two of the major problems our women face today and we have to work together to help in eradicating this parasite from our society”
Mrs. Patrica Benn former president of the WPO (1957-1964) explained the struggles faced by women during her era “and worked together to spread the word of women’s unity and strengthen the development of Guyana. Their first priority was to encourage parents to send their girl child to school”
General Secretary of WPO, Sheila Verasammy, like the speakers before her correlated the struggles that women faced over the last 60 years that the WPO has been in existence and this has not deterred their efforts. “We, the women of the WPO, have tangibly contributed towards the development of women lives in Guyana”.
By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally