The Guyana Association of Women Lawyers elected Sadie Amin president for the fiscal year 2015/2016 at its AGM hosted late last month.
The new executive also comprises vice president, Ramona Rookhum; secretary, Ayanna McCalman; treasurer, Shellon Boyce and assistant secretary/ treasurer Jaya Singh-Backreedy. The committee members are Coleen Sparman, Judy Stuart, Anita Mohan-Hamilton and Natasha Vieira, the association said in a press release.
Outgoing president Simone Morris-Ramlall updated members on the activities of the association over the last year which included outreaches to far-flung communities, in-house seminars, a child rights conference in collaboration with UNICEF and the Guyana Bar Association, fundraisers, social events, a monthly newsletter and production of a Local Government and You booklet.
Reports were also presented by the secretary, treasurer and the GAWL’s representative on the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic board of directors. Members also discussed amendments to the association’s current constitution.
In brief remarks, Amin thanked the members for reposing their confidence in her to head the association and committed to continue its outstanding work, which she noted has a history of strong leadership and institutional mechanisms to guarantee success. She also thanked the outgoing and continuing executives for a job well done.
In a planning meeting, the new executives made a number of proposals for the upcoming fiscal year which include a visit to the women’s section of the New Amsterdam Prison, collaboration with various civic organisations whose mandate include women and children, free ‘roadside’ legal advice; distribution of the association’s premium publication: The Law and You; partnering with the local, regional and international bar associations on matters of mutual interest and the launch of the Deborah Jan Backer Memorial Scholarship. Backer was the Charter Secretary of the GAWL when the association first came into existence in 1987.
According to the press release, the new president has held several positions on previous executives of the GAWL and is currently the Secretary of the Guyana Bar Association. Amin practices law in Essequibo and holds memberships in various civil society organisations.
