FIRST LADY Mrs Sandra Granger Monday praised the Diocese of Guyana Mothers Union for its continued service to the vulnerable sections of the society over the past 90 years.Mrs Granger delivered the feature address at the opening of the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

The First Lady noted the work of the Union in supporting families, the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) stated in a press release.
According to MOTP, the Union has activities in all of the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, designed to empower women and support children and the elderly. These include: income generating projects, day care facilities, parenting classes, programmes to nurture youths and children, feeding programmes, and hospital, parish and prison ministry.
“These programmes underline the fact that the Mothers’ Union of Guyana is focused on the vulnerable sector of our population and on building strong communities and supporting families,” the First Lady said.
She pointed out that given the challenges that women in general, and mothers in particular, face every day, the importance of the services provided by the Mothers’ Union cannot be understated. Mrs. Granger explained that women continue to bear the burden of nurturing and educating, and in many cases providing for their families, while at the same time, grappling with issues such as sexual, mental and physical abuse, and human trafficking.
“Women work in the public and private sectors, in the field and the factory, in banking and commerce, in the medical profession, in education, in nursing and in the discipline services. Some women are self-employed, some work for the minimum wage as domestics or shop assistants or security guards.
“Some (women) go into the Hinterland, lured by the promises of lucrative jobs and some migrate to North America and the Caribbean in search of better paying jobs.
A woman’s life is a life of continuing and confronting challenges, of overcoming the obstacles thrown in her path each day,” the First Lady said.
As such, the First Lady welcomed a recent announcement by the Ministry of Education, stating that it will be working to reintegrate the teenage mothers into the secondary school system, in keeping with Government’s mission to reduce the incidences of this social problem; this cause is also one that is particularly close to the First Lady’s heart and, in December, her Office partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to discuss new strategies to address this problem.
Mrs. Granger also spoke of the dangers that children are being exposed to in today’s fast-paced, highly technological society, which makes them easy targets for online predators and urged parents to be more vigilant.
This year, the Mothers’ Union of Guyana is celebrating 90 years since it was first established at the All Saints Church in New Amsterdam, Berbice in 1926.
The AGM saw the participation of members from parishes in Essequibo, Linden, Upper Mazaruni, Imbaimadai, East and West Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East and West Berbice and Rupununi.