THE Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) has hailed the contributions and efforts of its women employees as it joins organisations world over in celebration of International Women’s Day yesterday.

Host of the simple ceremony, Reporter Tamica Garnett pointed out that the company has for the first time appointed a female member of the Board of Directors, who was selected from among the staff to represent workers.

Forty-seven per cent of the members of the workforce at the company are women, while the company’s Board of Directors (BoD) has a balanced combination of both sexes, Garnett told the women-dominated gathering, as she encouraged the women to “celebrate yourself… you are significant as a woman”.
Member of the Public Procurement Commission and former President of the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL), Emily Dodson added much more meaning to the GNNL celebration.

She sang the song “Celebration” which was released in 1980 by Kool and the Gang.

She said International Women’s Day (IWD) was dedicated by the United Nations to celebrate the political, economic and social lives of women globally.

It is a time, she said, to reflect on progress made and to make a call for change.
Guyanese women can celebrate as women are involved in practically every sphere in the country’s development.

Only recently, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire were appointed to the post of acting Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively, the first time the top two judicial posts here are held by women.

One third of members of Guyana’s Parliament are women. In sport, Dodson noted that for the first time the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding Federation (GAFB) has appointed a female Secretary with the recent appointment of Stacey Mckinnon to that position, while four of its recognised bodybuilders are women.

GARNETT RECOGNISED
She commended Garnett for being the only active female sports reporter seen at major sports events in Guyana, and encouraged her to hold the fort and rise to greater heights.

The attorney also pointed out that Guyana has one of the more progressive of legislations that speak to women and encouraged all women to understand the laws.

“Those laws protect your rights and you should know about them,” she said, and made a promise to donate a user-friendly composition of laws addressing women’s issues compiled by the GAWL, to the GNNL Library.

“We have come a long way,” she said, “but there is still a lot to be done.”
Statistics show that more women graduate from tertiary institutions than men, and by virtue of this, women are the educated majority in Guyana.

Dodson also hailed the move by Government to review the appointments of Directors of State Boards to ensure women have a more noticeable presence.
She shared the view that it is time the unpaid work that women do in the households be counted for, as they share the burden of a workforce plus manages the affairs of their household.

GNNL Chairman, Imran Khan commended the women employees for increasing production and the product of the company.

“Women are not always recognised and heralded for the work that you do in society,” he said and promised to make work more comfortable and rewarding for women in the employ of the Guyana Chronicle.

General Manager, Moshamie Ramotar reminded the women that they mean much to the GNNL, as she recognised their excellent performance on the job despite having to man their various chores and duties at homes.