Dear Editor,
We celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme ‘Women in the Changing world: planet 50-50 by 2030; Be Bold for Change’.
As I ponder on the significance of International Women’s Day, I must recall and reflect on the sterling contributions of many women to the cultural, social, economic and political landscape of Guyana. Indeed, the glowing contributions of women such as Viola Burnham, Janet Jagan, Shirley Field-Ridley and, at the municipal level Dorothy Bayley, Mavis Benn, Lucille Cox David and Beryl Simon are worthy of commendation. Our predecessors have left a rich legacy and their contributions and work are worthy of emulation and would forever be remembered. Even as I reminisce on the work, life and success stories of women and their contributions in the local context, I am saddened by the fact that women in Guyana and globally continue to face many serious challenges. Many women continue to experience discrimination on several fronts.
They occupy low level jobs and even though they have qualified themselves in their respective fields, in some instances, men are being paid higher wages for the same job. Then again, looking at the other side of the divide, there are women who are not recognized or paid for their daily contribution to society.
The Convention on the elimination of all forms of violence against women amply defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end it. It includes any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, and civil or any other field.
Therefore, if we are to achieve gender equity we must be prepared to re-socialize the girl child, so that she would not conform to gender roles and constructs which often affect and influence the choice of occupation.
The 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the 1994 Inter- American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women were developed to explicitly guarantee women’s ‒ rights to live free from violence. As a society we continue to fight the scourge of violence against woman that has been eating at the social fabric of society. In 2015, 19 women lost their lives at the hands of their partners, while in 2016, between January and October, 13 women lost their lives. We must be bold and embrace a holistic plan to foster change.
Therefore, it is imperative that collectively we seek to find a solution. Because of the pervasive nature of this problem, it cannot be addressed in isolation. It is imperative that we work collectively and holistically to stem the tide of abuse. Our religious, non-government organizations, governmental organizations and civil society must unite to effectively and efficiently eradicate the scourge of discrimination and other social ills affecting women. Many have advanced the notion that gender inequality is the central and underlying factor behind domestic abuse.
Currently, there are still many single parent families headed by women. Many women have to take up the slack to provide for their families because of absentee and delinquent fathers. On this International Women’s Day, I want to make a clarion call for men to take their rightful places in their homes and in their families and focus on the upbringing of their children. The family is in crisis because many fathers are not in place and are not playing their roles.
At the city council women account for more than half of the work force, and are employed in various aspects of municipal work as building inspectors, environmental health officer, city constabulary officers and clerks who work for the development of a better city for all.
Council remains consistently committed to contributing to the economic empowerment capacity building of women to drive development in our city. At the council we endeavour to ensure that we build on the past contributions of women to the development of the city and promote the maintenance of gender parity. We continue to encourage our women to study and commit themselves to deliver quality service and to be good role models worthy of emulation.
Every day is women’s day. Happy Women’s Day to all women.
Yours faithfully,
Patricia Chase-Green
Mayor of Georgetown
