THE Human Services and Social Security Ministry has re-launched its work programme for the National Family Commission (NFC) under the slogan “Contributing to the stability of family life.”

Giving an overview of the commission’s programme on Monday at the Cara Lodge, NFC Chairman, Dr. Kwame Gilbert noted that the first commission was established in December 1998, and this new commission was appointed by Cabinet on July 1, 2012.
Dr. Gilbert has been tasked with chairing the commission for the next year, members of which include Trenetta Scott, Aleema Nasir, Bibi Ganni, Charles Quintin, Cyril Belgrave and Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
Dr. Gilbert said that since the appointment of the new commission, the members have met approximately eight times to decide what their specific mandate is as given by Cabinet, and also in response to societal needs.
He related that the mission of the commission is to improve the quality of life in the Guyanese society through promotion of stable and cohesive families.
“Our Mission Statement is to give greater recognition to the role that the family unit plays in the evolution of contemporary society; and to honour the family’s function, to enhance its role, and to strive for the well-being of its members,” the chairman stated.
Dr. Gilbert further disclosed that in the current composition of society, there’s an undeniable reality that many of our homes are headed by single parents, moreso single women. He noted that as the commission seeks to promote the image of a family and what is a stable family, it recognises that it is important not to establish one family image as necessarily being ideal, while discriminating against other family types.
He said the objectives of the commission include strengthening the capacities of families to carry out the basic functions of production, reproduction and socialization; empowering families, particularly those comprising of single parents and disabled or dependent members; and ensuring that the basic needs of all families — including health, nutrition and shelter — are met.
Dr. Gilbert added that the commission understands the challenges some families face; particularly those of economic origin, which makes it difficult for them to meet the basic needs, which include education and health. He said the task of the commission is not necessarily to provide the resources needed, but to ensure that it promotes and seeks to create the environment in which focus would be brought on how those needs can be met.
According to him, the commission also seeks to promote parental responsibility by strengthening the role of the father and encouraging shared parenting between the two parents.
He informed that the commission has looked at four broad areas on which it would be focusing over the next year. These are: advocacy, public education, partnership-building, and monitoring and evaluation.
Speaking at the occasion, Human Services and Social Security Minister, Ms. Jennifer Webster said the work of the commission is fundamental towards further improving the social and moral fabric of our society. She added that the work of this commission would reach throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.
Webster related that the commission has been mandated to address issues pertaining to the family, particularly those such as the significance of promoting good family life, parenting, leadership, social interaction in the home, apart from looking at the issue of gender-based violence.
The minister noted that the protection of our women and children and other social issues has a direct daily impact on our lives as members of society, and our nation as a whole. She said it is important to note that our human resources are our most valuable asset, and it is important that we recognise that the social services we provide to our people are of utmost importance.
She added that in Guyana today, there are many single-parent families headed more primarily by women, and she noted that the family is the nucleus of any society, and it is therefore important to recognise the importance of the role of this commission.
Webster asserted that, in our homes, the supportive role of the family cannot be overemphasized, as the home is the first frame of reference on which a child models his/her life, and it is therefore important that values and virtues are instilled at this stage.
“We need to nurture our children to ensure that they are given equal opportunities and treatment. We perpetuate the prejudice, for example, that girls should stay indoors and assist with household chores whilst boys are allowed to play outside,” she related.
According to her, by doing this, we will therefore be reinforcing the unnatural separations we see in the world, where women are disproportionately saddled with household duties. She further stated that if our girls are the first choice in forced absence from schooling, we will continue the cycle of economic inequities for women and its attendant lack of independence and autonomy.
Webster declared it important to recognise that there is a role for everyone to play.
Addressing fathers, the minister emphasised that a father is the first male that a child interacts with, and therefore how fathers treat their children will forever shape those children’s expectations about how they should be treated.
“I wish to implore all fathers and mothers to be cognizant of your role, and to encourage and facilitate the discovery of your children’s true potential. We need to recognise the importance of teaching our children the values of life, so that in years to come they will grow up to be upstanding citizens in our country, who would be committed and dedicated to working for a better Guyana,” she stressed.
She added that we must equally examine our socialization process, noting that all parents have an obligation to be positive role models for their children. The minister related that spending a few extra moments mentoring a child can have an incomparable and indelible impact upon the shape of that child’s life in the future.
“I challenge everyone to think about the children in their lives, to make a little extra time on a daily basis to talk to them, and to utilize the opportunity to influence the state of the mind of future leaders of our country’” she emphasised.
According to Webster, the education system also has a role to play, by reinforcing these messages through the medium of health and family life education in its curriculum.
She urged everyone to remain steadfast in working together for the continued development of our country, and she also encouraged everyone to join forces in working to strengthen the parental role of many of our parents.
The minister commended the NFC, urging everyone to join together to make Guyana a better place, and to rid our society of some of the social issues which have a negative impact on our country’s development.