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First Lady visits female prisons on Int’l Women’s Day
By Leon Suseran
Guyana’s First Lady, Deolatchmee Ramotar, was hailed for her courageous and historic visit to the New Amsterdam Female Prisons yesterday to mix, mingle, serve them lunch and share love and joy with the inmates there on International Women’s Day.
It was perhaps a first visit to a prison by one of Guyana’s First Ladies. One of the inmates thanked the Frist Lady for the visit especially during a time when visits to such facilities are highly stigmatized;
First Lady receives International Women’s Day gift, craft work from two female prisoners.
Mrs. Ramotar was described as brave.
Mrs. Ramotar complimented the inmates for the enormous talent. ’When you leave this institution, there is a lot you can do out there”, she charged them. She wished them a happy International Women’s Day, much to the applause of the women.
“I am very happy to be with you here today and have an opportunity to meet with you all. I have never visited a prison or a correctional institution.”
She also commended the prison authorities “for the work that they are doing in providing you with new learning skills and enhancing old skills you have, which, of course can be used upon your re- entry into the civilian society”.
“We never really know why we are given the experience we are given, but I believe every experience is an important learning experience that, on the basic level, allows us to not only build character and strengthen who we are as a people, but our individual experience would allow us to enhance collectively, our society.”
Mrs. Ramotar stated that for women particularly in prisons, they may sometimes believe that being in prison has “spelled the end of your lives… I do not want you to think so or believe so because this is not true”.
She did agree that women will face some challenges and some stigma attached to prisoners once they enter society. “However, do not let this disadvantage you; do not let this prevent you from taking steps to live a full and productive life…
“No matter what the circumstances or difficulties or situations, you can change your lives—you and I we all have in us, the qualities, the strength, the focus and determination to turn around our lives, to make a complete transformation…do not let this experience hold you back or prevent you later for pursing a university Degree, if that is what you want or becoming a businesswoman, nurse or doctor…”
First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar serving female prisoners lunch yesterday in New Amsterdam.
She told the inmates that it is not too late in life for them to get qualified and to succeed.
“I really have great optimism that each of you is strong and capable of making a personal transformation. Thus I urge you to take up the programmes offered to you and work to your utmost, so that on the day of your release, your time spent here can be put to productive use, not only for your society, family or friends, but most importantly for yourselves”.
Officer-in-Charge of the New Amsterdam Prisons, Linden Cornette, stated, “Reflecting on Guyana’s situation, when our sphere has made significant achievements and we started with [a woman] holding the highest office in the land, as Chancellor of the Judiciary, and so forth, unlike other countries, our women have the liberty to expand”.
He added that the historic visit yesterday really and truly coincides with the Guyana Prison Service’s Strategic Development Programme. The inmates staged a cultural programme for the First Lady and sang songs, recited poems, etc.
First Lady Ramotar then presented hair-care products to the prison officers’ salon representative. She in turn was presented with crochet work and other craft work by the female prisoners.
That part of the programme over, the First Lady served the inmates, and even sat and dined with them. She was accompanied by Member of Parliament, Mr. Faizal M. Jaffarally.
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