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Celebrating Women in Parliament

Mar 18, 2012 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

An address by Mrs. Catherine Hughes MP, Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Parliament Buildings (an event hosted by the Tenth Parliament of Guyana)

I am honoured to be among this outstanding group of Guyanese women. I look around and I see the faces of women whose names today are recognized in every household across the length and breadth of Guyana and beyond.
Many of you have at times led the struggle for the advancement of women and gender issues here. You stood side-by-side with our men folk during the struggle for independence and the liberation of Guyanese women to be seen as equal in ability and potential as men anywhere. The hallowed walls of the Parliament echo your vigorous debates and stirring arguments as you stood in promotion or defence of the right and the just.
In the early 2000s there were just about 12-13 women in the National Assembly. Today, the Tenth Parliament is a vastly different picture with 20 women, and as a woman I must say, a far prettier one!
Your struggles and triumphs set the platform for what we have today, one of the more gender conscious parliaments anywhere in the world.
The 2010 Global Status of Women in Parliament Report ranked Guyana at 25th of 186 countries, with 30+% of its members of parliament being female. This is no small achievement for a developing country and you, the women of previous parliaments who fought for this, deserve every accolade you get. I salute you!
The Tenth Parliament is still in its infancy and under the new dispensation, it has the potential to be one of the most inclusive and consensual in the history of Guyana. We as women must take a lead role in ensuring that this potential is realized and that all Guyanese, regardless of their race, colour, religion or political persuasion, are comfortable in knowing that the Tenth Parliament acts in the best interest of all the people. Let us as women take the lead in showing that we are leaders elected by the people, for the people!
As we observe International Women’s Month this March, let us as Members of this august body, bear in mind why we were elected. Let us keep in front of us the plight and circumstances of the thousands of women in the electorate who live in poverty, who live in fear of their spouse or partner, who struggle to feed their families, who leave their children unattended at nights so they can work as security guards.
As we ‘Celebrate Women in Parliament’, let us remember that we are here on the votes of those women and their hope, that as women we will be sympathetic to their circumstances and do all within our power as Parliamentarians to improve their circumstances.
They say women are experts at multi-tasking. Thousands of us have full-time jobs, we take care of the home, we take care of children and a husband, find the time for our friends and still make the time to attend classes either at the University of Guyana or some other institution, such is the strength and competence of a woman.
If we be true to the promises we made during the campaign that brought us here, then International Women’s Month 2012 will be a celebration not only of the women in Parliament, but of women all across Guyana.
So, let us remember that as women we have the strength and fortitude, as Parliamentarians we have the power to make it happen. I thank you!

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