I am writing in response to the article: ‘Social exclusion and women on the eve of International Women’s Day published in the Guyana Chronicle on 10th March, 2011.

Firstly, let me thank (Chronicle Reporter) Yohann Earle for relaying from his female colleagues that the performance of ‘Phenomenal Woman’ was entertaining and achieved all that it set out to do. Indeed this was eminent in the responses of those who attended and from those who ‘couldn’t make it’ and heard they had missed out on a really good evening.
Although, initially, ‘Phenomenal Woman’ was meant to be an all female event, male reporters were not ‘prohibited’ as was evident in the male presence of the media and we thank them, too, for capturing this enjoyable evening but an open invitation was sent to the female members of the media to attend not necessarily as reporters, but for them to join in the celebration. The choice was theirs. There were also a few men who were not of the media fraternity.
But please allow me to correct (Earle) on the matter of who was invited to the evening’s event. Over 350 written invitations were sent out to women across Guyana from all walks of life. Some were invited verbally. Colleagues were invited, friends and families of colleagues, groups, organizations, diplomats, ministers, parliamentarians, advocates, women with small and large businesses, the young, the old, students, etc. all were invited because the Ministry believed that the evening belonged to WOMEN; a celebration, an awakening, a respect for each other, an acknowledgment, a ‘feel good’ evening and a pride in being a woman…against all odds. The event was a free event and the ministry is not unaccustomed to providing transportation when needed.
I was there and I consider myself a ‘real woman’ (is a woman) who has been through trials and tribulations like the next woman. I can identify and empathise with most women and am always willing to share my experiences with my sisters. As women we must support each other.
If you were actually there you would have witnessed for yourself the cross-section of women who were in attendance. Maybe, as women all dressed up for a night out, it was difficult to ascertain who was an office assistant or a C.E.O.  That’s one of the beauties of being a woman.
In relation to what is done for the ‘real women’ of our society, you should be aware of the daily initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Labour, Human Services & Social Security. Apart from counselling and intervention, there is the Single Parent Programme, Board of Industrial in which women are trained in all skills, Women of Worth (WOW) for women who wish to start up their own small business, the ILO HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme, and the ‘One Love’ NGO group in Kwakwani which has regional and international acclaim in relation to commercial sex workers. The ministry also organizes fun-days, parties and visits for the young and old.
Currently, the ministry is honouring outstanding women of 2010 in an exhibition at the National Resource and Documentation Centre for Gender and Development of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services & Social Security in Water Street, on television there is a nightly all female panel discussion addressing women’s achievements, roles, challenges etc. in an effort to encourage and motivate women and also portraits have been erected in honour of Winifred Gaskin-scholar, pioneer and advocate of women’s rights in Guyana, journalist, minster of the government and diplomat, Dr. Desrey Fox-academic, cultural activist and anthropologist and Kowsilla – the worker’s martyr.
‘Phenomenal Woman’ was truly an exhilarating evening and I am very proud to have been in the company of so many amazing women.