Guyanese Women Roundtable (GWR) is on a mission to effectively equipment women of all strata of society with the requisite skills and knowledge needed to play an integral role in Local Government Elections (LGE). Although women account for more than 50 per cent of Guyana’s population, they continue to be under-represented in the area of governance.
As a result, the GWR has launched an aggressive campaign to increase women’s participation in local government as a critical strategy for change. Though the non-governmental organisaton will not be contesting the LGE as a voluntary group on March 18, 10 of its members would be contesting the elections within their respective constituencies under different groupings.
On Monday, GWR Director Roslyn Wade told media operatives that the organisation’s civic engagement will place special emphasis on the role of women in LGE under the theme “Women navigating a space in local government: If not, why not, because not.”
Director and Founder of Monique’s Caring Hands, the local branch of Caribbean People International Collective Inc (CPIC), Dr Dawn Steward who also serves as GWR Chairperson, said many women lack the confidence needed to participate in Local Government.
It was explained that while women are good at voting and mobilising people, many shy away holding high positions in the Local Government system. As such, the GWR would be reaching out to women throughout Guyana.
“It is important for us during this short cycle to develop specific training activities targeting women in all regions, allowing them to strengthen their self-esteem and provide them with the necessary skills to be able to understand such local policies, as budget, strategic plans, community development, and community analysis,” Dr Stewart explained.
She pointed out that Local Government sets the foundation for women to play a greater role in the governance of the country.
Once elected into office, GWR members would be working with their respective communities to address a number of issues.
COMMUNITY APPROACH
“What we intend to do is to have the community involved in solving the problem because I don’t believe that we can solve the problem, I believe that all the community, all of us can solve the problem. So they got to buy into it and we have to develop the strategies… to rid these problems,” the Monique’s Caring Hands founder said.
Based on her one-on-one consultations with residents, she said education, crime, the Guyana Police Force, garbage pollution and the environment, drug and alcohol abuse and poor parking were among key issues that surfaced.
She also noted that the issue of mental health, in particular suicide, cannot be ignored.
In addressing these issues, she said there is need for a cultural shift.
“Bearing in mind that we haven’t had Local Government Elections for many, many years, so really we haven’t had governance… so there is going to be a shift but it will be very difficult now to tell the guys that they need to park properly, they can’t throw the garbage in front of the house and they can’t throw up a shed where ever they feel like throwing up a shed. So there is going to be a cultural shift that we all have to employ,” Dr Steward explained.
Women’s involvement in direct elections has been proven to demonstrate a more open society, responsive to changing social realities and the determination of women to become a part of mainstream politics.
According to the organisation, the performance of these women in the local councils will improve the perception about women’s ability to participate in governance and produce results for their constituencies.
Additionally, it was explained that women can best fulfill their personal, family and community responsibilities when they have equal access to local government services and programmes.
Dr Stewart was supported by CPIC Monique’s Director Roselyn Wade, GWR Secretary Pamela Welch and GWR members Denise Mitchell and Dawn Braithwaite.
The GWR is also partnering with Youth for Local Government, another voluntary group that will be contesting this year’s Local Government Elections.

By Svetlana Marshall