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— probably first of its kind in the world
THE Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO), intended to represent the rights of women miners and others who work in hinterland communities was yesterday launched under the theme, “Expanding Opportunities for Women Miners,” at the Sea Breeze Hotel, Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
The thrust of the newly-formed association is to define the roles and contributions of women miners; highlight the problems they face; help secure financing and easy access to credit; establish standardized procedures for women to resolve challenges they face while mining; and address issues of abuse, trafficking, and prostitution.
According to the president of this non-profit and non-governmental organization, Mrs. Simona Broomes, Guyana is proud to be the first in the world to have such an association.
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jennifer Webster delivered stirring remarks to those present at the launch of the GWMO yesterday, and pointed out that Guyana was proud of its record on gender equality and development.
She observed that, in today’s globalised world, the role of women is one which has evolved with them playing
significant roles with the family, and, more importantly, in the work environment. As such, she said the 3rd Millennium Development Goal deals with the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Minister Webster pointed out that, as compared with 1992, when there were only 12 female Parliamentarians, the Tenth Parliament now boasts 21 women out of the 65 Parliamentarians.
Furthermore, she said that the contribution of mining and quarrying to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in current terms from 1980 to 2010 has ranged from 10% to 22%, excepting the years 1981 and 1986, when the industry endured severe setbacks and its contribution fell to below 10%.
According to Webster, the contribution of gold alone in 2010 was 12.5% of total GDP, and 78% of the GDP contribution of mining and quarrying. Since the 1980s, gold has overtaken bauxite as the highest contributor of value to the mining and quarrying industry, and remains this way to date, due to climbing gold prices.
“I strongly encourage your male counterparts in the industry to support your efforts, as you go forward for the successful pursuit of women’s issues that are inevitably linked to the issues faced by men in the industry, as the broader gender issues are identified and resolved,” Minister Webster urged.
Meanwhile, Broomes said that being in mining for over 26 years, and facing some of the challenges and abuse common to women, caused her to think that it was “time to stand up to these and define ourselves in the industry.”
She said a female pork-knocker is more than just a “bush woman,” as they are popularly referred to, and that women doing this type of job are those with dignity and respect. She said they are the quality women who are proud to be allowed in the mining industry.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Joslyn McKenzie, who attended the launching of GWMO on behalf of Minister Robert Persaud, offered that the ministry is looking forward to working closely with the newly-formed organisation.
He said the GWMO is assured of the ministry’s support through the various agencies, and he pointed out that women miners have made significant contributions to the understanding of geology and other developments in the country.
McKenzie said this type of female participation continues to foster job creation, alleviate poverty, and generate wealth. He observed that mining has been one of the pillars of the Guyanese economy, and alluded to several women who made their mark in the industry.
President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Mr. Patrick Harding, observed that women have always played an important role in the mining industry, and he was confident women would continue to do so.
He said the launch of the GWMO comes at a time when the price for gold is very attractive, and he highlighted that some of the problems which concern the sector at present are crime, illegal mining, and allocating to small scale miners lands owned by government.
Karen Livan, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), observed that Guyanese are fortunate to have a mining sector and a geological heritage in the country, and to be emboldened by tradition to carry out mining at small and medium scale levels.
She highlighted that female miners are women who brave rivers, rapids, malaria and other harsh conditions to make their way into the backdams and other mining locations. This initiative, she observed, promotes gender equality in a sector that is dominated by men.
Livan, who is the first female to be commissioner of the GGMC, urged the women miners to learn the legal and technical requirements of mining, and to have the GWMO set high goals as an organisation. She said women could become noteworthy investors and contributors to the nation’s development.
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, David Devine, said his country has long shared a relationship with Guyana, especially in the mining sector, and he applauded the newly-formed GWMO for its vision. He added that the association can always count on the support of the Canadian High Commission.
THE Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO), intended to represent the rights of women miners and others who work in hinterland communities was yesterday launched under the theme, “Expanding Opportunities for Women Miners,” at the Sea Breeze Hotel, Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
The thrust of the newly-formed association is to define the roles and contributions of women miners; highlight the problems they face; help secure financing and easy access to credit; establish standardized procedures for women to resolve challenges they face while mining; and address issues of abuse, trafficking, and prostitution.According to the president of this non-profit and non-governmental organization, Mrs. Simona Broomes, Guyana is proud to be the first in the world to have such an association.
Human Services and Social Security Minister Jennifer Webster delivered stirring remarks to those present at the launch of the GWMO yesterday, and pointed out that Guyana was proud of its record on gender equality and development.
She observed that, in today’s globalised world, the role of women is one which has evolved with them playing
significant roles with the family, and, more importantly, in the work environment. As such, she said the 3rd Millennium Development Goal deals with the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.Minister Webster pointed out that, as compared with 1992, when there were only 12 female Parliamentarians, the Tenth Parliament now boasts 21 women out of the 65 Parliamentarians.
Furthermore, she said that the contribution of mining and quarrying to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in current terms from 1980 to 2010 has ranged from 10% to 22%, excepting the years 1981 and 1986, when the industry endured severe setbacks and its contribution fell to below 10%.
According to Webster, the contribution of gold alone in 2010 was 12.5% of total GDP, and 78% of the GDP contribution of mining and quarrying. Since the 1980s, gold has overtaken bauxite as the highest contributor of value to the mining and quarrying industry, and remains this way to date, due to climbing gold prices.
“I strongly encourage your male counterparts in the industry to support your efforts, as you go forward for the successful pursuit of women’s issues that are inevitably linked to the issues faced by men in the industry, as the broader gender issues are identified and resolved,” Minister Webster urged.
Meanwhile, Broomes said that being in mining for over 26 years, and facing some of the challenges and abuse common to women, caused her to think that it was “time to stand up to these and define ourselves in the industry.”
She said a female pork-knocker is more than just a “bush woman,” as they are popularly referred to, and that women doing this type of job are those with dignity and respect. She said they are the quality women who are proud to be allowed in the mining industry.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Joslyn McKenzie, who attended the launching of GWMO on behalf of Minister Robert Persaud, offered that the ministry is looking forward to working closely with the newly-formed organisation.
He said the GWMO is assured of the ministry’s support through the various agencies, and he pointed out that women miners have made significant contributions to the understanding of geology and other developments in the country.
McKenzie said this type of female participation continues to foster job creation, alleviate poverty, and generate wealth. He observed that mining has been one of the pillars of the Guyanese economy, and alluded to several women who made their mark in the industry.
President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Mr. Patrick Harding, observed that women have always played an important role in the mining industry, and he was confident women would continue to do so.
He said the launch of the GWMO comes at a time when the price for gold is very attractive, and he highlighted that some of the problems which concern the sector at present are crime, illegal mining, and allocating to small scale miners lands owned by government.
Karen Livan, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), observed that Guyanese are fortunate to have a mining sector and a geological heritage in the country, and to be emboldened by tradition to carry out mining at small and medium scale levels.
She highlighted that female miners are women who brave rivers, rapids, malaria and other harsh conditions to make their way into the backdams and other mining locations. This initiative, she observed, promotes gender equality in a sector that is dominated by men.
Livan, who is the first female to be commissioner of the GGMC, urged the women miners to learn the legal and technical requirements of mining, and to have the GWMO set high goals as an organisation. She said women could become noteworthy investors and contributors to the nation’s development.
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, David Devine, said his country has long shared a relationship with Guyana, especially in the mining sector, and he applauded the newly-formed GWMO for its vision. He added that the association can always count on the support of the Canadian High Commission.
