Women were last evening urged at a forum organised by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to play leading roles in the upcoming general election as a first step in ensuring that their social and economic concerns are addressed.
Making presentations at the event which was held at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, were Lurlene Nestor of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Karen De Souza of Red Thread and Sandra Granger- the wife of APNU presidential candidate, David Granger.
He, his running mate- Dr Rupert Roopnaraine – and Campaign Manager, Joseph Harmon were the only men, minus those from the media, among the large number of female attendees.
Held under the theme “Sisters- Amidst the Challenges, Let Your Hand Make the Difference,” the forum heard Nestor making a stirring appeal to the women to get involved even more in political activism. She urged women present not to allow polls or the atmosphere to give them a false sense of security and thus become complacent. She called for them to embrace other sisters and vote on November 28th so as to ensure their voices were heard at the political level.
Sandra Granger, in her presentation, noted that although women accounted for over 50 percent of Guyana’s voters they were the ones who are also most marginalized. Highlighting issues such as domestic violence, prostitution, human trafficking, migration, low self esteem and education, Granger stated that urgent attention was needed for not only politicians to address these issues but by society as a whole.
As First Lady and by extension a wife and woman who understood the stress of shopping, she said that she would lobby to see the removal of the current VAT on basic food and popular household products such as chowmein and Milo among others which seem to put a strain on the day-to-day budgeting of women throughout Guyana.
Further she illustrated how the role of women interconnects with every other member of society hence if women were marginalized the effects will be felt by every member of the family to which she is attached.
She charged women not to be influenced by any person or factor aimed at silencing them on issues they were passionate about. To this end she stated the importance of women getting together and letting their voices be heard on issues that concern them rather than being silent
sufferers. “We have to embrace each other on this self empowerment mission it is only though collectiveness that our objectives will be achieved” said Sandra Granger.
Through positive gender messaging she said the nation would also see women coming to the realization that they were equals .She called on society and encouraged all to educate girls into believing that they could achieve anything and did not “need to be a plaything to succeed”.
She promised that should she be First Lady of Guyana she will work alongside women on all issues that concern them since she sees inclusiveness as the only way forward. Granger ended her presentation by promising that her government would strive to empower and develop women regardless of strata.
Lamenting that many laws are enacted in Guyana but not enforced for the protection of women and children, activist of the women’s organisation, Red Thread, De Souza said the country needs to go beyond legislation.” The laws do not work, we can have the best laws; and we do have some very good laws some of the best in the Caribbean ,but what is the point of laws if you do not make sure that they work” she said.
She also stressed the need for women to be vocal and look for examples from “The Arab Spring” in the Middle East where women realised that their voices could mean something in bringing about political change in their country
The evening’s proceedings also featured cultural presentations that included singing of songs which substituted David Granger’s name for popular lyrics and choral singing of patriotic Guyanese songs. (Marcelle Thomas)
