Minister Persaud

MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, delivered a resolute message of the government’s determination to surpass this year’s Gender Equality Index assessment during her address at the WE LIFT ‘4’ Exposition held at the Aquatic Centre on Saturday.

Speaking at the National Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, Minister Persaud highlighted Guyana’s significant progress, noting an impressive leap of 18 positions in the index, attributed to increased women’s participation in the labour market.

“If you look at the growth you will see it reflected when Guyana climbed 18 notches in the index that represented women’s participation in the labour market in one year and that was in 2022…I am hoping that when this year is assessed we are closer and closer to the top,” Minister Persaud remarked.

Emphasising the government’s unwavering efforts to empower women across various sectors, Minister Persaud outlined initiatives aimed at facilitating homeownership opportunities, enhancing healthcare services, ensuring access to education, and providing free technical and vocational training opportunities.

“Speaking to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, we have a laser-sharp focus on women and their own development and even paying attention to the social issues that manifest themselves,” the Minister added.

One such initiative, the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) training programme, spearheaded by Minister Persaud, aims to equip women with the skills and confidence to pursue economic opportunities and achieve financial independence. WIIN offers diverse training courses including garment construction, information and communications technology (ICT), and soon, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical installation to address labour market gaps.

Participants of WIIN also benefit from access to a business incubator, providing training in business literacy to help them start, sustain, and grow their businesses effectively.

Minister Persaud concluded by affirming that with these initiatives and the government’s steadfast commitment, Guyana stands on the brink of transformative change in gender equality.