Latest update February 24th, 2025 9:02 AM
Moruca women back pledge for parity on Int’l women’s day
The women of Moruca, Region One, on Tuesday celebrated International Women’s Day 2016 with a good natured boisterous march through the main street from the Santa Rosa Ground to the “Extension” Centre.
Three Ministers lead the march: Valerie Garido-Lowe, Dawn Hastings & Cathy Hughes
The march was led by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, Valerie Garido-Lowe; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Dawn Hastings; and specially invited guest, Minster of Public Communication, Cathy Hughes.
More than 70 Moruca women assembled at the centre and listened to Toshao Sherwin Abrams speak about the high regard in which he holds women. He underscored the importance of motherhood and applauded the women’s group in Moruca for the effort they have expended to teach their compatriots about the advances made by women from Moruca and the rest of Guyana in almost every sphere of life, including politics.
Minister Garido-Lowe, herself a product of this community, urged the numerous men present to do all they could to end the spate of domestic violence and promote respect for women, especially the youthful ones.
A Peace Corps Volunteer attached to the nearby Kumaka Hospital used the opportunity to raise awareness about teenage pregnancy, family planning, menopause and the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer. The organizers entertained with dramatic sketches that examined the various reactions to domestic violence.
Minister Cathy Hughes delivered the feature address. She was pleased to learn that the community is home to so many dynamic women. ”One of the great things about women is our ability to transcend our differences and work towards the goal of nation building,” the Minister said, referring to several present and former Ministers of government and parliamentarians who continue to interact from different sides of the floor.
Highly regarded women of Moruca pose with the Ministers.
She informed her audience that it was the United Nations in 1975 that set aside one day each year to honour the contributions of women everywhere who have contributed so much to global development.
“Don’t ever underestimate the power of a woman … to effect change,” she stated, borrowing a popular call from Jamaican singer, Shaggy. She reminisced about a period not so long ago when the voices of women were ignored in the male-dominated world.
“We women were not given our due but we didn’t give up. We stayed the course and today we stand proudly beside our male counterparts, glad that we can contribute to making our societies better”.
Minister Hughes spoke about the many decades throughout which women worked and earned for their families and communities. In more recent times they have caught on to the benefits of the worldwide web.
She spoke about the Rupununi Weavers, the group of women who made decorative hammocks from scratch, i.e. by preparing the raw materials before weaving. They had attracted customers all over the world via the internet.
They learnt about fair trade and marketing also via the internet and today, returning Guyanese and visitors still come to Guyana hoping to acquire a Rupununi hammock.
The highlight of the International Women’s Day observances in Moruca was the distribution of tokens of appreciation by Minister Dawn Hastings to three outstanding women: Retired teacher of Santa Rosa Parish School, Esther Campbell; long standing PTA Chairperson, Juanita Phillips and Leader of extracurricular activities for students, Magdalene Simon.
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