Women’s groups stage protest

Apr 17, 2014 News

– Says issues being neglected

Members of a number of women’s groups gathered outside Parliament building yesterday, calling on politicians to put more effort into addressing issues affecting women.
One Billion Rising, the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA), Red Thread, the Guyana Women Miners Organization (GWMO), Help and Shelter and the males from the Salvation Army were among those armed with placards, supporting the picket line. ‘Let the women speak.’

Several male supporters advocating for issues affecting women to be better dealt with.

, ‘Women need justice! ‘Too many murders,’ some of the placards read.
The demonstrators stood behind barricades on Avenue of the Republic, north of a group of Amerindians protesting the Budget cuts on the Amerindian Development Fund.
Dr. Faith Harding representing The Quick Impact Project, told Kaieteur News that regardless of what anyone says, there are not enough programmes being set up to address issues concerning women.
“Guyana has troubling issues affecting our women that aren’t being dealt with as they should. There is domestic violence, rape, and even suicide, because in this part of the world, many women are taking their own lives. It’s worrying and these issues need to be addressed properly,” she posited.
Harding added that the protest is not just geared towards the Government, but the large Opposition faction as well.
She noted, “Such issues involve both sides. The Opposition can make a difference. They don’t have to be in Government, they can raise funds. It is ridiculous that in Guyana, everything gets thrown at the Government. The Opposition can do something too…and something needs to be done, because women are the caretakers of the households, and they have to be protected and cared for.”
Harding believes that there should be national labour quota, which would ensure that women are given equal right to work in high offices and obtain better paying jobs.
“Like for instance the construction sector. We have so many female engineers, but you don’t see them being given projects or so…that is why such a quota is needed,” Harding said.
She added, “Most of the students at the University of Guyana are women, and most times when they leave UG, you don’t see them again. Why aren’t they being given high paying jobs?”
Asked about the female representation in the National Assembly, Harding said that it is a shame that rather than development, political ploys are prevailing.
“This should not be the case. We need more women…yes, we have in education, but then again everything is made so political. Everything is politics, not development,” Harding stressed.
She noted that women are leading the role of raising future generations, and everything that can be done, should be, in order to protect them.
“If we do this, and we help our women…we are ultimately helping the future, because there are also many single mothers who raise their children on their own.”
“Let the women speak,” Harding urged, adding, “We should not be made to feel invisible.”
Simona Broomes of the GWMO, who has also been championing the cause of human trafficking in and out of Guyana, reiterated that nothing is being done to assist and protect Trafficking In Person (TIP) survivors. She believes that such persons are being neglected by the relevant authorities.
“It is sad to know that even if we managed to rescue one victim, there is nothing being put in place to help them.”
During a recent interview with this publication, Broomes said that ever since the GWMO was formed in 2012, having a home for TIP survivors was on the list of priority projects.
Meanwhile, Herbert Goocharan of the Salvation Army told Kaieteur News that his participation in the protest is as a result of struggles faced by his female loved ones.
“I have my sisters, daughters, aunts and nieces, and I know of some of them who suffer from abuse and second-rate treatment and it’s not right, so I am here, supporting these women, with the hope that something would be done to assist the women struggling with abuse and gender-based violence and so. I believe also that the politicians should do more to support the cause of women in Guyana.”
Although briefly, Indra Chandrapal, Head of Women and Gender Equity Commission, Member of Parliament and former Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security came out to listen to the protestors.
Echoing the calls of the protestors in a rather melodious manner was a local boy-band.