THERE is a close correlation between women’s empowerment and national development. According to studies done, women as leaders and decision-makers are crucial in terms of advancing economic, social and political progress.

This is true for Guyana as it is for any other country in the world. There are, however, many societies where, mainly out of cultural reasons, women are confined to the home and are denied opportunities to develop their potential to the fullest and to participate in the political life of society.

This is unfortunate. Women constitute nearly half of the world’s population and are therefore an organic part of human development. The underutilisation of women is a loss to society, both economically and socially.

Guyana has come a long way in terms of empowering women. Several policy interventions were made by the PPP/C administration to advance the cause of women and to help them to play a more meaningful role in the development of themselves, their families and, by extension, the country as a whole.

It is now an established fact that when women are meaningfully represented and engaged in decision-making bodies such as the legislature, courts, executive bodies, decisions are more likely to be inclusive, representative, technically sound and fair.

It is in the above context that the government has implemented several measures to provide a level playing field for women to contribute to national development.

Women today dominate several areas of our national life such as teaching, nursing and the public service. Thanks to greater access to tertiary education, women are now taking up senior management positions both in the public and the private sectors.

The contributions of women go beyond professional and technical competencies. Women’s leadership within households improves access to education and healthcare for their families.

Guyana has made great strides in terms of women’s participation in decision-making at the political, judicial and administrative levels. Indeed, we are one of the few countries in the region where it is mandatory for women to constitute at least one-third of the list of candidates for national and regional elections.

The government is continuing to examine new ways to empower our women and girls. The Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GLI) located at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara has now been offering a variety of programmes in non-traditional areas such as Information Communication Technology (ICT) videography, video-editing, interior design and catering. In addition, the institute will offer training in business management and marketing and participants will be offered guidance on how to access loans and grants from lending agencies.

Training is also being done in diverse areas such as gender-based violence, women and gender equality and other relevant areas.

The PPP/C administration must be commended for once again putting women’s issues on the front burner. As pointed out by the Human Services Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, the institute has been there for a long time but was not being utilised by the former APNU+AFC administration. A new board was installed and it is expected that several new initiatives will be taken, aimed at the further empowerment of our women.

These initiatives will complement several existing government programmes such as garment and accessories cottage industry where participants are trained in making masks, functional business literacy, sustainable business and micro-enterprise.

These initiatives are consistent with the PPP/C Government’s commitment to advancing and protecting the rights of women and gender equality by way of empowerment.

As President Ali correctly observed, Guyanese women are strong, resilient and resourceful. ‘I don’t have the capability to understand the level of challenges that a woman would go through in her life cycle… but women have the potential to do anything.’ According to the President, not only are women designed stronger than men but beyond that strength is an inner soul which is transformational and essential in any society.

The idea of women being the weaker sex has now been questioned. Women are perhaps the fairer sex but certainly not weaker. That glass ceiling is now gradually being broken and our Guyanese women are now taking their rightful place as key players in the exciting task of nation building.