Women debates dominate 2011 Commonwealth Day observances
A PASSIONATE and spirited debating competition was hosted, on Tuesday, by University of Guyana (UG) students, who, critically and analytically, examined the merits and demerits of ‘Electoral Quotas’ for women in Guyana and other Commonwealth countries. The opposition team emerged winners after defending the position that the quota system has not, significantly, improved the condition of women.
Held in the Parliament Chambers, of Public Buildings, Brickdam, Georgetown, the contest was part of a programme in observance of Commonwealth Day 2011, organised by the Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (GBCPA).
GBCPA is headed by Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, who, having granted special permission for the hosting in Parliament Chambers, occupied a seat other than the Speaker’s Chair.  That, on the occasion, was taken by the Moderator, Ms. Cheryl Archibald. However, after occupying another seat during the exchanges, addressed the gathering later.
The opposition, led by Mr. Michael Xavier scored 175.5 points while the proposition, with Justin Lee leading, three members, too, secured 168.6 points.
The judges were Dr. Frank Anthony, Chief Adjudicator; Deputy Speaker of the House, Ms. Clarissa Riehl and Ms. Magda Pollard, former Head of the Women’s Affairs Desk at the CARICOM Secretariat.
Congratulating the debaters on having done a fantastic job, the judges admitted that it was, indeed, a close rivalry, with both sides demonstrating they had done a high degree of research and had a thorough understanding of the subject matter, while presenting their facts in a most convincing manner.
The discipline demonstrated by the opposing teams throughout their deliberations was also noted.
Amidst the audience, it was the generally felt that both were winning teams and a draw was possible and, as the judges tallied, everyone in the house waited in suspense on the eagerly awaited results.
In the judges’ remarks, the proposition discovered, to their dismay, that they had made the fundamental mistake of failing to define the key elements of the moot and for that and little else, they paid a price.
Joining Ramkarran to congratulate the teams were Mr. Al Creighton, Dean of UG Faculty of Education and Humanities.

In the past decade, a number of countries around the world, including Guyana, have amended their laws to ensure that each electoral list of candidates of each political party, has one-third women candidates.

Timely
Against that backdrop, as Guyana observes the 62nd Anniversary of Commonwealth Day the debate was considered timely on the topic ‘Has this Quota system benefited women in Guyana and other Commonwealth countries  significantly’.
The key activities in 2011 observance locally was the moving of a motion, by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds last Thursday, resolving:”That the National Assembly recognises, during the observance of Commonwealth Day 2011, the Commonwealth’s significant contribution to Guyana and other  member countries in the promotion of peace, representative democracy and individual liberty and sustainable human development” and further “That the National Assembly reiterates its recognition and support for the efforts of the Commonwealth to address emerging and old challenges and its endeavours to promote a world of freedom, equality and development and prosperity for all peoples, especially the young and women.”
Other aspects hosted by the GBCPA included a reception and exhibition at the Umana Yana, in Kingston, another Georgetown ward, at which a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was read by Deputy Speaker Riehl and the keynote address was delivered by Speaker Ramkarran.
Those in attendance included Prime Minister Hinds, Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, members of the Diplomatic Corps and MPs.
Earlier, on Monday, second and third form secondary school students toured Public Buildings and yesterday, a round table discussion took place in the Education Lecture Theatre of UG on ‘Women as Agents of Change: Overcoming obstacles to achieve gender equality and development.”
The high points in that discourse were the progress made by women over the last 20 years, identifying obstacles to and actions needed to advance women empowerment and how can women and their organisations accelerate this process.
The discussants were Ms. Priya Manickchand, Minister of Human Services and Social Security; Ms. Indra Chandarpal, Ms. Volda Lawrence and Ms. Cheryl Sampson (MPS); Ms. Kin Halley, of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and Ms. Yvonne Pearson, Chair of the National Toshaos Council.