Janet Jagan among honorees at collaborative observance
LATE former President of Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan was one of the women honoured when the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown, in collaboration with the Venezuelan Institute of Culture and Cooperation (IVCC), honoured them as part of the worldwide observance of International Women’s Day.
The function, held on the host institution’s premises, at Lot 106 New Garden Street, Queenstown, was themed ‘Equal access to Education, Training, Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women’.
President of the Guyana/Cuba Friendship Association, Mr. Samuel Abdool said the international celebration, on March 8 every year, was a historical achievement all over the world, highlighting women’s rights, sufferings and achievements.
He lauded the women who lost their lives fighting for the rights of others, noting that new legislation enacted was, by no means, an overnight achievement.
Abdool expounded on what was achieved by brave and innovative women in this country, Venezuela and Cuba, placing special emphasis on Mrs. Jagan.
Describing her as “frugal, humble and kind” he highlighted her concern for vulnerable groups of people, such as Amerindians, women and children.
Abdool recalled her integral role in the first local major women’s organisation, the Women’s Political and Economic Organisation (later called WPO).
She was the recipient of the country’s highest honour, Order of Excellence (OE), the Woman of Achievement award from the University of Guyana (UG) and, in 1997, the Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women’s Rights by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Dario Morandy, who also spoke on the occasion, said ladies need to speak because it was not only a celebration but a day of achievement and struggle for the women in the world.
He called for a re-examination of the social role of women.
The high point of the programme was cultural presentations of dramatic pieces by literary activist, Mr. Petamber Persaud, who did a humorous skit called ‘Dem a watch me’ and an inspirational by Morandy’s wife, Mrs. Corina de Morandy.
President of Women with Power, Ms. Judy Khanai gave a moving representation of an uneducated 15-year-old from a rural community migrating to the city and the struggles she faced to get where she is today.
Local singer and winner of Starr Guyana competition, Ms. Lisa Punch impressed with her singing and so did IVCC student, Ms. Aleeyah Ifill, who sang in Spanish.
International Women’s Day was first observed after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member States to proclaim March 8 UN Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.