Dear Editor,
Anyone who believes that women are in the ascendancy and taking over in Guyana needs only look at recent political and administrative appointments to clearly understand the true status of women in Guyana and how they are viewed by the present political directorate.
While we agree that quotas may not be the best way to ensure fair gender representation, in the present climate they may be the best way to proceed in the face of the almost total invisibility of women in formal leadership positions.
Based on gazetted appointments to state boards, the GHRA has analysed that only 3 (9.4%) of the chairpersons to 32 of these boards are women. Even worse are the revelations that of the 125 state board members, only 22 or 18% are women and 2 of these women are to sit on more than one board. To add insult to injury, four commissions have not a single woman representative, while eight boards have only one, seven two and one three.
Let‘s look at some other relevant facts. We know that in Guyana women make up more than half the population. We know that more girls than boys are enrolled in schools and that this differential increases the higher up we go on the educational ladder. It is also no secret that girls are outperforming boys in educational attainment in many subject areas and that the gender gap in areas in which males have traditionally excelled, such as maths and science, is narrowing not only in Guyana but worldwide. These trends have been ongoing for a number of years. We also know that women are very active in the area of micro and small business, are often the main decision-makers and exercise better management of family resources and budgets, especially in times of crisis. In fact, there is probably no area of work or endeavour in which women of Guyana are not involved and have not excelled. We also know, and it is well documented, that women innately have better management, language and social skills. As such, we do not accept that women with the requiste skills and expertise could not be found to fill 50% of all recent political appointments to state boards & commissions.
We do not know if there is a deliberate intention on the part of the APNU+AFC government to minimize the role and visibility of women in present day Guyana, but it is shocking, embarrassing, illegal and reflects badly on the new administration’s commitment to gender equality and equity in governance. Let us further remind the government that the constitution of Guyana in its preamble guarantees the right to non-discrimination based on gender, says this is a fundamental right of citizens of Guyana and goes on further to say that our constitution would be guided by international instruments such as the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW), which was signed onto and ratified by Guyana on the 17th July 1980. These constitutional rights are not only clear but justiciable.
“Women’s participation in the various management and decision processes whether private, public or state shall be encouraged and facilitated by laws enacted for that purpose or otherwise” (Article 29).
“Every woman is entitled to equal rights and status with men in all spheres of political, economic and social life. All forms of discrimination against women on the basis of gender or sex are illegal” (Article 129(F(1).
“Every woman is entitled to equal access with men to academic, vocational and professional training , equal opportunities in employment, enumeration and promotion and in social, political and cultural activity” (Article 129(F(2).
In light of this appalling discrimination and lack of knowledge on the part of the APNU+AFC administration, we recommend that all the ministers of government be (re-)educated on issues of gender, gender discrimination and gender inequality and the obligations of the state of Guyana to do all in its power to eradicate gender discrimination and guarantee full and equal rights to women, including their participation in all spheres including family, work and political governance. The days are long gone when it is acceptable that women be relegated to the background and to positions of subservience.
We would also remind everyone, including the Government of Guyana, of the enormous debt that the women of Guyana are owed, a debt that continues to escalate ‒ carried mainly on the backs of poor and single mothers ‒ which is rarely acknowledged, far less repaid in cash or kind. This is the unpaid and unrecognized women’s work of caring, sustaining and nurturing families, communities, elders and the next generation including its political leaders. If there is any doubt as to the value of this work, a women’s week of rest from all of this would show how priceless it is.
We demand that the Government of Guyana stop its discrimination against women and move immediately to the equitable participation of women on all state boards and commissions and in all other areas. As the administration is apparently unwilling to give more than passing consideration to the pool of suitably qualified women, we suggest that an independent body with adequate gender and diversity representation be set up to assist it.
Yours faithfully,
Simone Morris-Ramlall for Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL); Vidyaratha Kissoon; Andaiye; Omattie Madray, Coordinator for ChildLink Inc; Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth for Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA); Danuta Radzik; Josephine Whitehead and Denise Dias for Help & Shelter; Joy Marcus, Wintress White and Karen de Souza for Red Thread; Janice M Jackson; Norma Adrain and Susan Collymore for Red Thread’s Women’s Network, Grassroot Women Across Race; Vanda Radzik; Chelauna Providence and Schemel Patrick for SASOD; Jocelyn Dow; Nicole Cole, Raquel Thomas-Caesar, Nicolette Roach, Jessica Xavier for Citizens Against Rape; Alissa Trotz; Alicia Roopnaraine; Renata Chuck-A-Sang; Leila Jagdeo; Kathleen Whalen; Mellissa Ifill; Janette Bulkan; Renuka Anandjit; Bonita Harris; Norwell Hinds; Nigel Westmaas; Wazir Mohammed; Kamala Kempadoo; David Hinds
