President Jagdeo promises Government’s full support
FIFTEEN persons were sworn in yesterday as members of the Women and Gender Equality Commission with President Bharrat Jagdeo pledging his government’s full support in its efforts.

Taking their oaths in the Credentials Room of the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown before the Head of State were: Ms. Shalimar Ali-Hack, Ms. Vanda Radzik, Ms. Nandranie Coonjah, Ms. Debra Ann Henry, Ms. Bebbi Haliema Khan, Ms. Gaitri Baron, Ms. Indranie Chandarpal, Mr. Peter Persaud (only man), Ms. Gillian Burton, Ms. Renata Chuck-A-Sang, Ms. Ernestine Barker-Logan, Ms. Cheryl Sampson, Ms. Karen Vansluytman-Corbin, Ms. Nicole Rhonda Cole, and Ms. Hymawattie Lagan.

Also, two more members of the National Rights of the Child Commission, Hyacinth Gloria Massay and Marissa Angela Massiah, were sworn in, joining Commissioners Pamela Nauth, Yvonne Fox, Pauline Anthony, Aleema Nasir, Michelle Kalamandeen, Suelle Findlay Williams, Sandra Hooper, Rosemary Benjamin Noble, Vidyaratha Kissoon, Bhanmattie Ram, Kwame McCoy, Shirley Ferguson and Sorajanie Rambaran, who were all sworn in last May.

In accordance with the Constitutional Reform Commission’s mandate, the National Rights of the Child Commission is one of the four entities to be set up with the aim of establishing a Human Rights Commission (HRC).

The HRC, on the verge of becoming established, will comprise a chairperson and the four chairpersons from the National Rights of the Child Commission, the Women’s, The Indigenous, and The Ethnic Relations Commissions (ERC).

President Jagdeo, congratulating the new commissioners and noting the importance of the commissions to the country, said, “We are moving along towards establishing all the rights commissions and they all very critical to the improvement of relations in our country.”

He underscored that the commissions are important “for our people to feel that they all matter” and said that the Women and Gender Equality Commission is an essential part of the set of rights commission established in the constitution.

Observing that most of the members have been considerably involved in fighting for the rights of women in society, he noted, “I think most of us understand that this group is a particularly vulnerable group in our society and that is why we sought to have a commission dedicated to its well being.”

He noted that today, too many women undergo significant difficulties in society, stating, “…I am sure that this commission will help to lead the way in ensuring that these social ills are eliminated.”

He said women need to play their rightful role in society without suffering the ravages of prejudice found in the family and societal levels also.

“I look forward to working with you, you have my government’s full support,” President Jagdeo reassured.

“I am so pleased that the fight to enhance women’s rights in Guyana has never been a political issue,” he said as he encouraged them to try to keep this out of the “political domain” and in its discussions, ensure that their politics, gender and race are not part of the process.

Meanwhile, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday, said that fifteen of the new members belong to entities that enjoyed the support of no less than two thirds of the members of the Ninth Parliament.

“The parliamentary approval process, we should know, was long and drawn out but at the end sane heads prevail,” the Cabinet Secretary stated.

The Indigenous Peoples Commission is still outstanding and Dr Luncheon said its constitution must await the end of the parliamentary recess and the recommencement of the Ninth Parliament.

“With the appointment of those three commissions and the existing ERC, the HRC will be constituted, the HPS reminded.

He said for the Chairman, constitutionally, his appointment will be based on the Leader of the Opposition presenting a list to the President from which he will extract his choice.

The Cabinet Secretary said the administration intends to house the four Rights Commissions in the Bidco building in Queenstown, also in the city, subsequent to its rehabilitation.