Women should be the parliamentary majority – First Lady
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG4hcIeDWcQ” width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ calls for parity in opportunities, employment and salaries
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, April 2, 2019
“We must not celebrate 37 per cent of our women in Parliament. We should celebrate 51 per cent,” were the rousing words of First Lady, Sandra Granger at a Women’s Programme held at State House on March 30.
“Thirty-seven per cent is nice but it is not cutting it, let us look for equal parity in our salaries, we want parity in our opportunities and our employment.”
Based on statistics, the First Lady added, “An educated woman earns about 15 -24 per cent more; a girl who has completed high school, than one who has not. Women who work contribute 90percent of their salaries to their families, whereas men contribute 30–40 per cent.”
She alluded to the fact that many women are single parents, and with domestic violence a major issue there should be new legislation in place that will ensure the husband is charged but continues to support the home while being counselled.
In her speech, the First Lady noted that “we need to re-psych our girls” so they are educated and empowered while seeking ways of moving forward. Moreover, our girls and women need to be educated and independent; to know their power and to know how to make demands that come with that power, that is when women will start to move forward.”
The event also included various cultural presentations and was a collaboration between the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Social Cohesion and the women leaders of the group Delices Appetisantes (Food for Thought).
The event was also attended by Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawerence and other representatives from the ministry, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet and representatives from other government and non-governmental organisations.
Kipenie Jordan.
Images: Ministry of the Presidency.