The Guyana Women Miners’ Association (GWMA) was formally launched yesterday and Canadian ambassador David Devine announced that his government will soon embark on technical training with a strong focus on gender equality in the local mining industry.
Devine made the announcement while addressing a gathering of female miners at the Sea Breeze Hotel in Pere Street, Kitty where the GWMA launching took place.
Devine said that the mining industry holds tremendous potential for Guyana’s development and he noted thatcapital investments and innovative technology are just as important as human resource investments in order to optimize that potential.
He said that men and women must play important roles in the development of the industry, but emphasised that on a global scale the role of women is becoming even more vital, since the womenfolk work in key areas of the development of the mining industry.
Further, noting the investments by Canadian companies in the mining sector here, Devine said Canada has recognised that the skilled and semi-skilled human resource capita needed to be developed and it has embarked on supporting the development of supply-driven technical and vocational educational training.
“The Association of Canadian Committed Ecologists and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training has received approval for a project aimed at the mining industry… to provide accredited programmes for skills necessary for the industry,” he said.
Devine noted that the programme will carry a strong focus on gender equality and empowerment of women in training for jobs in mining. He said, however, that despite the strides made in the industry, “none of us should underestimate the challenges we face in assisting women in mining to improve quality of life, and equality for women.”
He said achieving women‘s economic empowerment in the mining sector will require a long term commitment, sound public policy and holistic and long-term planned approaches from all stakeholders within the industry.
“According to the United Nations, poverty has a woman’s face. The UN data suggests that 70% of the world’s poor are women. This is very alarming, particularly when we consider the tremendous impact women could make to global development if empowered to do so,” the ambassador noted.
He said that the development of Guyana can only be achieved when the skills and talents of all facets of its human resource capacity are developed and are able to contribute their fare share to the economy.
“It is important that women have a strong voice in mining communities and a greater role in planning and decision making processes relating to mining,” Devine told the gathering, while adding that “gender equality is an essential building block to sustainable development.”
He also said that the newly formed association will give women a stronger voice within Guyana’s mining industry.
Meanwhile, Human Services Minister Jennifer Webster, in her feature address at the launch, noted the mandate of the association is to represent the rights of female miners and other women who work in the hinterland and mining communities. She said that the presence of such an institution serves the niche of the population of women who are being represented in a growing industry.
Webster said that the government has as its primary focus the responsibility of policy formation aimed at reducing poverty and to improve the quality life of all Guyanese. She said too that the role of women has evolved, with women playing varying roles.
She said the government recognizes the importance to treat gender issues in a fair and balanced manner and she noted that the Labour Ministry has implemented several initiatives which have targeted vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and women.
Webster urged the newly-formed organization to value its members and their contribution to the sector and she cautioned the body not to over extend itself or to duplicate areas other organizations may have as their mandate, including those whose directives focuses on issues relating to indigenous women and children.
She suggested that the group establish collaborative approaches with related organizations in order to maximize the impact of their energies or efforts in addressing the needs of women in the sector. A multi- stakeholder approach would be a key strategy to the organisation’s success, she noted.
Karen Livan, the newly-installed Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), spoke of the opportunities the sector has created for women and she highlighted their contribution to the industry. She said that women’s participation in mining is not limited to that of a cook or to the common role of a commercial sex worker. Livan, who was recognized yesterday in her newly appointed role, said that women should educate themselves, noting that they can learn and practice a skill such as accountancy, or manage mining firms or take on more technical jobs such as that of a geologist.
She said too that the formation of the association can be seen as a means of supporting and promoting women’s empowerment in the mining sector and she called on the organization to set high goals and work to achieve them.
At yesterday’s forum, president of the GWMA Simona Broomes said that the new body is collecting all information on female miners and will be in a position to respond to their needs while embarking on programmes to develop the sector and women.
Prominent female miner Cyrilda DeJesus was the brainchild of new organization and yesterday she urged her colleagues in the sector to strive towards developing themselves, their families and the country as she highlighted her experiences as a miner.
