Following discussion Thursday with head of various schools from Regions 3, 4, 7 and 10 at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), new Education Minister Priya Manickchand visited Region 3 where she met with parents, students and teachers from several schools, including Leonora, Stewartville and Zeeburg Secondary. 

The meeting was aimed at informing students and parents about the new initiative being undertaken by the government through the Ministry, to further improve students’ performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate, in mathematics and English.
Minister Manickchand said that the programme, which is being piloted in 32 secondary schools, is aimed “to improve the mathematics and English performance nationally…the schools were selected based on their previous results at the examination (CSEC) which shows that they have a foundation that could propel us to an average pass rate to about 50/60 percent”.
She said each student in the identified schools will be supplied with all the relevant learning materials, including scientific calculators, math and English text books, past examination papers, revision DVDs and geometry sets.
Teachers too, will be provided with special curriculum guides and syllabuses.
“In the remaining four months before the CSEC, we are hoping to focus on the areas where students have been the weakest …and I am confident that this new pilot programme will bear fruit,” Minister Manickchand said.
She urged parents and students to combine their efforts with government’s in making the programme a reality.
In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency, Minister Manickchand said that the feedbacks received from parents, teachers and students were positive.
“Once this programme works, it will be rolled out to every single secondary, starting from the Form Four, (grade 10)…based on the feedback teachers were hungry for this type of initiative, teachers are so passionate to see their students doing well,” said Minister Manickchand.
The Education Minister also met with teachers from the region, where she addressed several issues including furniture and the teaching curriculum.
Minister Manickchand visited schools in Region 2 today to meet with parents and teachers.

 

 

Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2011/12/17/minister-manickchand-visits-region-3-schools-involved-in-new-pilot-project

A five-month long pilot project will be introduced in 32 secondary schools throughout the country to reverse sagging performances in Mathematics and English.

New Education Minister Priya Manickchand an-nounced the initiative at a meeting with head-teachers, heads of department and teachers at the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) on Thursday, saying that it is intended to increase pass rates by 20%.

To this end, Manickchand assured that the over 4,000 Fifth Form students, who will be sitting the 2012 CSEC exams and teachers, will be given all the resources they need to be able to succeed.

This year the achieved pass rate for English A was 60.8 percent as compared to 59.2 percent in 2010, while in Mathematics there was a decrease from 34.5 percent to 30.4 in 2010—a range that is in line with the pass rate in Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados.

“The education sector has seen large investments, in fact the largest in terms of the resources that are plugged into the ministry, but we are not seeing the corresponding results proportionate to the investment made particularly in core subjects like Mathematics and English,” Manickchand was quoted as saying by the Government Information Agency (GINA).

She added that failings in these subjects would mean that a lot of doors in education and in jobs would be closed to Guyanese children.

GINA noted that the Education Ministry has long recognised that student performances, particularly in Maths and English A, have been an area for concern and it has implemented several initiatives to improve performances.

These include the special training for Maths and English teachers via the Non-Graduate programme, workshops with subject specialists, strengthening the Maths programme at the Cyril Potter College of Education, and the institutionalisation of the remediation programme.

The Ministry, GINA noted, will be ensuring that the students participating in the pilot get all the required resources, which include for texts, study guides, past CSEC papers, among other things. In specific schools, assistance will also be given for English B (Literature).

Some of the schools identified to be in the pilot project include Abram Zuil and Aurora, in Region 2; Stewartville, Leonora, and Zeeburg, in Region 3; Annandale, Covent Garden, and Bladen Hall, in Region 4;  East Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Brickdam, and Richard Ishmael, in Georgetown; Bush Lot, Bygeval, and Woodley Park primary-top, in Region 5; Tagore, New Amsterdam Multilateral, and Skeldon Line Path, in Region 6; Three Miles in Region 7; St. Ignatius, in Region 9; and Mackenzie High, Silver City, and Christianburg, in Region 10.

The selected schools were chosen on the basis that their results were good in 2010 and 2011, GINA said, while noting that Manickchand and a team of ministry officials are currently visiting the schools to emphasise the importance of students committing to working towards attaining success.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam recalled that over a year and a half ago 110 secondary head teachers had met at the same location, and a call was made for the development of a different approach in preparing students for CSEC, particularly in Maths and English. Sam, GINA said, pointed to changes implemented since then, including schools committing to a more robust remediation programme, and teachers giving more of their time to students who need additional support.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/news/guyana/12/17/pilot-project-introduced-to-boost-csec-mathsenglish-pass-rates/

NEWLY appointed Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, has introduced a bold new initiative, geared towards improving performance levels in Mathematics and English at the Caribbean Entrance Examination Certificate (CSEC).
According to Minister Manickchand, the pilot project will be implemented in 32 selected schools from several regions, over the next five months, and will include intense interactions among students, parents and the teachers of the two critical subject areas, with the Education Ministry being the facilitating body.

This is one of the new minister’s initiatives, geared towards transforming the country’s Education Sector.
The project was launched yesterday as the minister met with the various subject teachers, heads of department and education officers at the National Centre for Education and Resource Development (NCERD).
Alluding to the details of the project, she said, “This project is aimed at taking up percentage passes in Mathematics and English by at least 20 percent in the next five months, and we are going to make sure you and the children have all the resources you need, for the next five months. If we stick to this programme, with the resources, we could see at least a 20 per cent increase in the national pass mark.
The minister explained that each of the 4,000 students and their teachers, who form part of the programme, will be given the necessary tools, including texts, study guides, revision DVDs, combined past papers from 2008 to 2011, and the stationery needed to make the project a success.
As to the need for such action, Manickchand highlighted that, though the education sector has seen large investments from the government, there still have not been the corresponding results proportionate to the investments made, particularly in core subjects like Mathematics and English, even though the English results over the past two years have been quite impressive.

“If children cannot matriculate in these two subject areas, a lot of doors are going to be closed to them. We need to make sure this changes, and part of the problem may be because confidence level as a country is low, because we have been doing so poorly in the area.”
In this regard, Minister Manickchand, emphasized that for the programme to be successful, all stakeholders need to be fully committed to the task at hand.
She said, “This is only going to work though the collaborative effort of all involved, it is a partnership among the teachers, the government, parents and the students. I believe that if you have all of the resources and our kids have all of the resources, it is possible in the next five months; it is up to us to show the world and the country that if you put the effort in, with the support of the government with resources, good grades in Mathematics and English are possible.
Minister Manickchand, reiterated the Education Ministry’s support towards the success of the pilot project and expressed the confidence that, with the commitment required, it can become a model for the rest of the Caribbean.
Decisive Factors
According to the minister, the 32 schools chosen are among those which recorded exemplary results at the 2010- 2011 CESC Examinations, and the teachers there would have also received training in Mathematics and English.
Alluding to the advantages of this, she said, “This indicated that those schools had a foundation on which to work. The children working in 2012 already have the foundation, and with the added work during the next five months, they will be able to pass the two subjects. Anything you do consistently for five months, you will see results, I know this will work.”
The 32  schools involved in the programme were chosen from Regions 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica ), 5 (Mahaica /Berbice ), 6 (East Berbice /Corentyne), 7 (Cuyuni Mazaruni), 9(Upper Takatu/ Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara/ Upper Berbice ) .
Minister Manickchand and a team from the Education Ministry will be conducting a series of visit to the selected schools over the next few days, to impress upon those involved the importance of full participation in the pilot project.

 

 

 

Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2011/12/16/minister-manickchand-launches-bold-new-education-initiative

nclusive education has been given a great deal of prominence in the Ministry of Education as part of its intent to foster improvement and expansion of the educational services offered in Guyana.  This notion was disclosed by Chief Education Officer, Mr. Olato Sam, recently.  However, he asserted that this area demands greater focus largely because of the paucity of available options for various under-served groups within the society.  As a result, Special Needs Education in particular is seen as one of the main points of focus for the Ministry’s Strategic Plan.  He emphasized the importance of ensuring that a clear policy in this area is developed for the education system and more importantly that the range of required services are given special attention for improvement.
“To this end we have developed a Special Needs Education Unit within the National Centre for Resource Development (NCERD) that is now mandated to manage the implementation of our policies and plans and to further our broad objectives for greater inclusiveness.”
The new department, according to Sam, is currently being headed by Ms. Karen Hall.

In fact, he disclosed that Special Needs Education has now been established as an area of specialization at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) so that “we can now have more teachers adequately prepared with the requisite skills and knowledge to further these efforts in our school system.”
In this regard, he said that there is need for this area to be afforded more support and focus even as he amplified that the education system needs to be retooled, restructured and reoriented to ensure that inclusivity is embedded into the everyday practice and not be regarded as an adjunct programme. “That means the streaming of a range of services currently placed within the category of Special Needs is inevitable if we are to meet our mandate of modernizing the education system. We have a long way to go but it is our wish that centers like the Open Doors will be more intricately linked to the standard operation structures within the Ministry of Education, receiving the required resources and support to ensure their viability,” Sam noted.
Moreover, the Chief Education Officer alluded to the genuine need that exist both human and material resources needed to meet the outlined objectives of the Ministry.  “At times we at the Ministry of Education feel a bit overwhelmed, largely because we are all too cognizant of the limited and material resources available…” But according to Sam this shortcoming does not in any way daunt the spirit of officials within the Ministry, adding that in fact “what is compels us to do is to forge stronger partnerships with entities which can assist filling the gaps where necessary. Our experiences have taught us that such partnerships work effectively and the success of the Open Doors Centre is one glaring example of that.”
It was just recently, too, that head of the Open Doors Center, Mr. Arthur Lewis, named the introduction of Continuous Vocation Education and Training (CVET) as a strategic move to gaining the support of the Education Ministry in order to secure trained staffers and other assistance to aid the delivery of education to disabled trainees.  It is Lewis’s belief that once the operation of the entity, which is designed to cater to the educational needs of persons with disability, is on par with the requirements of the Ministry of Education much needed assistance will be forthcoming.
He shared his optimism that the officials in the Ministry will recognize that the organization is in dire need of persons with a passion for education and development to help solve its existing staffing problem.  “We need persons who have a passion for training and education to get on board with us.  At the moment most of our staffers are on part-time employment.  We need persons to come on board as full time instructors…” he insisted.
The Open Doors Centre got on stream in 2001 as a project and three years later it was handed over to the Ministry of Health after which it was transformed to a full-fledged educational institution. The entity has as its aim the need to promote and help improve the lives of young persons with disability.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/12/12/education-ministry-promotes-inclusive-education/

THE Education Ministry and the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) will be working closely, through a collaborative effort, to enhance the capabilities of children with the aim of fostering literacy in Guyana. 
This was announced last week by the GT&T’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yog Mahadeo and the newly-sworn Education Minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand at the inauguration of the schools literature ‘Know your stuff’ quiz competition, in the boardroom of the telephone giant on Brickdam, Georgetown.
The initiative, the brainchild of educator, Dr. Joyce Jonas, is one that seeks to build the minds of young persons in the field of literature through a creative and fun-filled way.
Jonas, who is known to have a deep interest in this area of study pointed out that this new venture is something she is passionate and excited about.
“I find this very exciting… I am passionate about life and literature is about life. I believe that one of the best subjects students can study is literature, because it is life-based but it should be fun and that is what the competition is about,” she told the media.
The students, who will be participating in the contest, will be drawn from the fourth forms and it is her belief that it will work smoothly with regards to any upcoming examinations, especially the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE).
Jonas said one of the main goals of the exercise is to encourage children to be focused on the elements of the quiz, so that they can be well prepared for any challenges they may encounter during their examinations.
She said this is not intended to be extra lessons to what is being is taught at schools throughout the country. “It’s not anything extra but we will be working along with the teachers to enhance literacy capacity of students.”
Jonas said it is her hope that the innovation will be an encouragement to the other students to make a difference in the area of literature.
The literature text that will be used for the quiz are the same  that will be used for the SSEE and would require participants to do short stories and plays in relation to what they have been studying. “All of the questions will be on examination material…not all will be simple; some will be complex, like identifying a speaker from a quote that is given,” she said.

Vital part

Additionally, Jonas said that some questions will be based on the authors and their backgrounds, since this is another vital part of literature. “We want them to be a bit more informed about the syllabus and it should be done in a more creative and fun way.”
Mahadeo said: “An investment in our children is an investment in our country’s development and, moreso, the world at large and we have a very deep interest in this area of development.”
He made reference to the fact that initiatives undertaken by GT&T and the Education Ministry have been successful over the years and this will be a continuous trend in Guyana.
“Over the years, we have been working with the Education Ministry and have been very successful in our efforts. We have the spelling bee competition, which saw Guyana participating, for the first time ever, in the regional competition …what we are doing is beyond our imagination,” Mahadeo said.
He said that the company realises the importance of nation building and will continue to support any project that is being executed in relation to the development of children at all levels. “We will continue in our efforts to support nation building.”
“When we start something, we always continue to ensure there is continued development so that we can further develop our country,” Mahadeo said.
He disclosed that, in the new year, for every term there will be some sort of competition that will give students the opportunity to exercise their skills and abilities, especially from a public standpoint.
“In the new year, there will be new ideas that we still have to discuss to enhance the learning capabilities of children,” Mahadeo revealed.
He said that the quiz is another stepping stone geared towards development of education in the country and these competitions will not only enhance the minds of children but give them the opportunity to be in the spotlight and be proud of their accomplishments.
“This is going to be an annual something; it is just the beginning, we will be playing our part as the communications company to ensure that we are significant in ensuring education is delivered,” Mahadeo assured.
Minister Manickchand lauded the undertaking and said she is pleased with the steps that are being taken to enhance the education sector.
“This is one to which I am looking forward,” she acknowledged.
She reflected that, over the years, GT&T has been bringing to the table ideas and interventions that have been working to develop the minds of persons from all walks of life and the various age groups.
“We believe the education of young people in Guyana should be continuous… we will be working to ensure that it is fast tracked also,” Manickchand said.
The minister said that, while Guyana has been excelling in the sector over the years, there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We have attained universal primary education but we will be working on attaining quality in that field and also at secondary level we will be working to ensure every child has access to education,” she said.
The minister said these are just a few of the challenges that she will be working to address, so that children can be on par with the rest of the world through the education system.
Directing her attention to the literature competition, once again, she said it would also work to benefit teachers, because it will urge them to implement teaching guides that are creative, which means taking a new approach to education.

 

 

 

Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2011/12/11/education-ministry-gtat-collaborating-on-childrens-literacy-quiz

 

 

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/opinion/editorial/12/08/politics-and-gender/

The 20-member Cabinet team appointed by President Donald Ramotar on Monday have all promised to make their respective ministries as efficient and effective as possible so that all Guyanese can benefit.

Speaking to Guyana Times International after the appointment, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Robert Persaud said having a new ministry is a challenge, but his ministry will focus on coordinating all natural resources, taking into consideration the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). His primary objective is to “coordinate all activities within the natural resources sector, be it mining, forestry, land and environment activity…as you know, given our LCDS thrust and also the rich natural resources, the president has decided that we needed to have a more coordinated approach.”

The former agriculture minister said harmonisation is key to sustainable development of all natural resources.

“My priority is in terms of looking at harmonisation of activities and ensuring that we have proper coordination of the various strands of the natural resources sector. It is also ensuring that we have reduced conflict between different users…Harmonisation of policy, but also looking at the different activities ensuring that they do not conflict with the others — ensuring that our environment is properly managed,” Persaud stated. He said he is up to the challenge, noting that it will indeed prove difficult.

 

Award of contracts

Bishop Juan Edghill, who was appointed minister within the Finance Ministry, said his thrust is to focus on all dissatisfied citizens who have expressed concerns about not being awarded contracts and projects at varying levels, noting that justice and fairness are key.

“I think I bring to the table a level of fairness and justice and a willingness to work with all the people of Guyana,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, new Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said he has to become acquainted with the office he now holds, noting that one of the first things he intends to do is get a “status update on the justice improvement programme”. He said he is interested in knowing at which stage it is currently and what else can be done to improve the programme.

“More importantly, my ministry would be engaged in a lot of consultations with the Bar Association; with the business community; with all the stakeholders, including, of course, the opposition members of parliament, especially those that are lawyers so that every decision I make I would try, as hard as possible, to be as consensual as possible, because we need the cooperation of all involved to take the legal system forward.”

He acknowledged that there are many problems affecting the justice system, noting that those problems must be resolved in a speedy manner.

“There are a lot of problems in the system that we have to work out and we have to get it done. That is the important thing right now. There is an agenda which I would have to look at – everything would centre on improving the quality of justice which we are dispensing to our people. That is the bottom line!”

Nandlall was asked about his succeeding Charles Ramson SC as attorney general and legal affairs minister despite the fact that he was a senior counsel. “I feel humbled that I hold such an important position not being senior counsel, but you know that that has happened all over the world…” he stated, pointing to Trinidad and Tobago as an example.

 

Workers’ rights

Another newcomer, Labour Minister Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul said he will be working towards ensuring that the rights of all workers across the board are protected.

“I will look at laws and legislation which are existing; there are modern laws, modern legislation and we are hoping that we would be able to police these laws to ensure that workers’ rights are protected and safe guarded.”

He stated, however, that it is not a case where the rights of workers are not currently protected but more needs to be done.

“Workers’ rights are protected under the existing laws; it is just that we have to work feverishly to ensure that all the areas of concerns are addressed and that people are happy at their places of work, be it in the sugar, bauxite [industries], wherever, they must feel a sense of security and a sense of belonging. We will work towards that.” Gopaul noted that “all matters which are outstanding we would like to settle; we would have all grievances resolved and we are going to work feverishly to ensure that grievances are resolved.”

 

From health to agriculture

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has committed to transforming the agriculture sector, noting that improving drainage and irrigation is a must. He said he has set up a meeting with all senior departmental heads with the aim of being briefed and he will also be visiting many of the factories while meeting farmers over the next few days.

“Clearly, we have to look at drainage and irrigation; it is a major problem if we are going to address agriculture. We have to look at more modern production methods in the country. I would be looking at all those things; it is going to be an exciting next five years for agriculture. I spent more than 10 years transforming health, and I would like now to make sure that by the time I leave this portfolio that the transformation of agriculture would have been quite advanced,” the former health minister said.

New Education Minister Priya Manickchand told this publication that she is keen on having talks with stakeholders within the education system so as to grasp an understanding of areas that need to be examined. She said, “Of course, I would really like to hear from people, parents, students, teachers about some of the things they might want to see in my term.”

Inspiring teachers to give their best, along with understanding root problems in the education sector, Manickchand said, will be her initial focus. “…the Education Ministry would have a whole host of people there who have intense experience, if we would match and mix those experiences with new ideas, then we have places to go.”

When asked whether she will miss her post as human services and social security minister she said, “It is not difficult to let go. I think Minister Webster will do a fantastic job. She is very interested in women’s issues.”

 

Now in his role

The elevation from minister within the ministry is a dream come true for Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsarran. He told this publication that he is humbled by the fact the president has chosen him to be the new health minister after years of being a minister within that ministry.

“The Ministry of Health has done a lot of good things over the past few years; we have also invested heavily in infrastructure and training. One of my immediate tasks would be to see that the Guyanese people get more out of that investment, the return on the invested dollar. I am not always satisfied that we are getting the best out of that investment, so we need to tidy up on management of the massive investment in improved infrastructure and training.”

He stressed that having more trained personnel would ensure that a better quality of service is offered to the people of the country. “I am hoping to push the principle of equity of access. Principle of equity, value for dollar, quality services and, of course, we need to have clientele satisfaction. Not all the time do we deliver the services in the manner we should. This creates disgruntlement. This needs to change,” he stated. Ramsarran, who had been responsible for regional health services across the country, stated he hopes to improve health care across the board during his tenure as health minister.

 

Homeowner vision

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali told this publication that he is pleased to be retained by President Ramotar, noting that his vision to have every Guyanese become the owner of a home is quickly becoming a reality.

Ali believes that focus needs to be placed on community planning and development so as to ensure that persons at the grassroots levels can become integrally involved, contributing to sustainable communities. Besides, Ali intends to expand his ministry’s public-private partnership while enhancing educational programmes aimed at sensitising first-time homeowners.

Meanwhile, Ali, who also has responsibility for the water sector, said improving the current billing system is critical in that area. “The billing system must be improved, we are also looking at ensuring more of the population has access to treated water and also work on integrated water resource management system and also expansion of water in the hinterland communities,” he stated.

All appointed ministers thanked President Ramotar for having confidence in their work and abilities to run effective and efficient ministries over the next five years.

 

 

Source: https://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/?p=12270

President Donald Ramotar on Monday swore in a 20-member Cabinet, more than half of whom are from the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, along with five new faces and a new ministry.

“I have every confidence that this team that I have just sworn in will work. Some of them who have been here before will continue the dedication that they have shown previously in their positions and in the new positions that they will now have; and those who are coming in for the first time, I want to say that you have a good team of people, experienced enough, who will help you along,” Ramotar told a State House gathering after the ministers took their oaths of office.

The new faces include former Region Two Chairman Ali Baksh who now holds the post of minister within the Agriculture Ministry; Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister within the Finance Ministry; Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul, Minister of Labour; and Ganga Persaud, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, a position that was held previously by Norman Whittaker following Kellawan Lall taking up a posting as Guyana’s ambassador to Brazil in July.

The fifth new face is that of Attorney Anil Nandlall who has been appointed Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. Nandlall replaces Senior Counsel Charles Ramson.

Noticeably missing from the Cabinet line-up was Shaik Baksh, who previously served as Minister of Housing and Water and also Education in the Jagdeo administration.

Also overlooked for Cabinet postings were: Manniram Prashad and Manzoor Nadir who served as Tourism and Labour Ministers respectively.

Meanwhile, former Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud will head the new Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which will operate out of the Office of the President, while former Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy has been appointed Minister of Agriculture.

Dr Bheri Ramsarran now holds the position of minister of health. Additionally, former Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand is now minister of education, and Jenifer Webster who was Minister within the Ministry of Finance now fills Manickchand’s previous post.

Those retaining their posts are: Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn; Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali; Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Dr Frank Anthony; Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai; and Minister of Public Service, Dr Jennifer Westford.

Whittaker, who served a five-month stint as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, has been shifted to Minister within that Ministry. He has been replaced by PPP stalwart Ganga Persaud, who previously served in that ministry as a permanent secretary.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, the longest-serving prime minister in the hemisphere, retains his position as Minister of Energy along with parliamentary duties.

No minister of tourism has been appointed, an announcement which Ramotar said he will make shortly.

 

 

 

Source: https://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/?p=12218President 

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will continue to respect all women’s rights and issues, and will spare no effort in fighting against domestic violence and in ensuring that there is equality of opportunity for all. 

Party General Secretary and Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar made this assertion yesterday while addressing scores of women gathered to commemorate International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
That event was organized by the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), an arm of the ruling PPP/C, and it saw women of all walks of life and from all regions converging on the Umana Yana in Kingston, Georgetown to listen to the presidential candidate and other party members as they addressed issues on women’s rights and gender equality. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand, was among the speakers.

In his presentation on the PPP/C vision for the future of Guyanese women, Ramotar declared that Guyana has come a far way in fighting for the rights of women, and has travelled a significant distance in this regard due to the vision and advocacy of  founding members  like Comrade Janet Jagan.
He said, “We were fortunate to have as one of the leaders (of the party) Comrade Janet Jagan, who was a very progressive leader of her time. It was like a breath of fresh air. A new perspective was brought in front of our people, and from the impact of her political life, she was able to bring women together and to promote an agenda of struggle for women.”

The party’s presidential candidate also noted that an enormous amount of women have contributed in the fight for independence, and were   involved in the struggles for freedom during the movement started by the PPP/C in the early period.
Alluding to the initiatives implemented since 1992, Ramotar announced that a vast amount of measures have been taken by this current administration to remove  oppression, and to increase  the   conditions for women to be able to express themselves in every aspect of their lives, and to promote themselves economically and socially.

Success of programmes
“In a direct way, one of the important interventions is the Women of Worth (WoW) programme that was started to help women improve their economic conditions in life. This is very important because, when you look at social issues, you will always trace them back to some economic root in society,” Ramotar explained.
“Therefore, enhancing women’s economic condition is not merely giving them better economic circumstances, but also empowering them to deal with the many issues, and allowing them to reach the equalities sought by all,” he added.
As to additional programmes which have contributed to the promotion of gender equality and empowerment, Ramotar announced that the PPP/C’s investments in the water sector have also aided in this overall objective.
He said, “I remember how many times I have travelled up and down the coast for one reason or another; and, in the 70s and 80s, it was a pitiful sight to see women pushing go-carts with tanks of water, with children hanging on to their skirts… Through our water programme that the PPP/C government started the moment we got into office in 1992, this is no longer the situation in our country.”

Future Plans
He additionally highlighted that through the government’s efforts to provide cheap electricity by means of hydropower, and the advancement of information and communication technology (ICT), more opportunities for job creation will be available.
In this regard, he lauded the Labour Ministry for implementing various training programmes that targeted women across the country.

The gathering at the Yumana Yana yesterday
“Women are obtaining skills in non-traditional areas to be able to play a greater role in society. This is extremely important, and this, too, will have a major impact on the issue of women’s equality and respect for women,” the presidential candidate emphasised.
Despite the successes and great strides made over the years, he posited, there is yet a great amount of work left to be done, especially in relation to stemming the brutal attacks on women in society.
As to the urgent need for this to be done, he stated, “We still have a lot to do. Sometimes, when you read the newspapers and you see the brutality that has been meted out against some of our women, some shock our consciousness and tell us that we still have quite a lot of work to do. And we have to insist that we will carry out this. We have our manifesto and we will emphasise and continue to build on the work we have already done.”
The areas that need to be addressed include strengthening and enforcing existing laws that protect women, in order to send a strong message that the PPP/C is serious about “stamping out  the degrading behaviour”  of violence against women.
Immediately following his address, members of the audience were invited to participate in an interactive session with the presidential candidate, and to highlight issues they deemed important.

Testimonial
The planned interactive session, however, morphed into a period of testimonials, as several women approached the microphone to testify to the success of the policies of the PPP/C administration, which have changed their lives and the lives of women all across the country.
The representative from the PPP UK branch, Patsy Downey, acknowledged that there have been improvements in the overall condition of the country over the 40 years she has been coming here.
“I have been coming here for 41 years, and I know of the difficult years. It’s good that they are over and they can never return. That is why we need to return the PPP to another five years in government,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Joan-Ann Green from the Linden/Soesdyke Highway noted that the day was indeed a significant occasion in the lives of all Guyanese women, as they have all benefited from the policies and interventions of the PPP/C.
She said, “Today, I must say that I am not the most empowered, but I am an empowered woman. I want to show that I am not afraid to demonstrate, from the Linden Highway to Georgetown, the party I represent and love. I am so happy to be a part of the PPP, which is a mega-party. You are a part of something great, women; feel privileged!”
Immediately after that interactive session, Minister Manickchand took the opportunity to underscore the many achievements of women in Guyana under the PPP/C Administration, and to remind the nation’s women that Guyana is, in many regards, ahead of the race in promoting gender equality.

 

 

Source: http://guyanachronicle.com/2011/11/26/guyana-leads-in-promoting-gender-equality

Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand yesterday urged all women to protect themselves from violent partners and to utilize the various programmes formulated to help fight the scourge of domestic violence.

The minister touted all of the work that has been done over the years by the ministry to protect women from the various forms of violence and to empower them so they can be independent, during a ceremony held to observe International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,

Braving the rain in the compound of the ministry, Manickchand said the day was set aside for the world to denounce violence against women with specific reference to its harmful effects and the solutions that individual countries have put in place to fight violence against women.

She said that domestic violence and sexual violence against women arose from a prevailing gender inequality where men have the upper hand. She noted that women and girls make up more than half of the world’s population but own only 1% of the world’s property, earn less than men and continue to be treated unequally.

The minister told the gathering, which included school children and social workers, that the fact that women make up a larger percentage of the population, is not reflected economically, socially or in any other respect.

In Guyana, according to her, women are struggling to emerge from gender inequality that is also prevailing around the world. She said the authorities need to be very aggressive in this fight to ensure that women become equal to men and that steps are taken to enable women to become independent so that they can better take care of themselves and their children.

She said it is not just a struggle to address domestic violence here but “the struggle for the government is to ensure that there are programmes in place and that there are policies that we can implement to make sure that our women are empowered”. She stressed that the ministry believes that it is within this environment that issues such as domestic violence and sexual violence can be effectively tackled.

She noted that women have undergone skills training since the ministry strongly believes that women need to be independent and not dependent on abusive partners.

Manickchand noted too that the ministry has also provided hundreds of women with grants so that they can either establish a business or expand on one. She explained that if a woman is trained in catering, on completion of the course she is provided with a grant to start a business.

She said the commendable Women of Worth (WOW) programme allows single parents to access financial assistance to expand their businesses pointing out that an agreement was reached with banks to ensure this was possible.

She said more than 2,000 women have benefited from this service in less than a year and this created instant changes in the lives of these women and their dependants.

Addressing domestic violence

The minister told the gathering that quite a number of things have been done to specifically address domestic violence. In addition to the “very comprehensive Domestic Violence Act, we recognize that we needed to put together the kinds of services that would be needed,” she said, adding, “we published a national policy on domestic violence.”

Manickchand pointed to the Stamp it Out campaign during which officials went to 60 villages and communities across the country over a six-month period. Thousands were spoken to about the harm of sexual violence and what can be done to stamp it out.
She said legal aid services have been expanded. “Legal aid is a place where you can get justice, access the court,” she said adding that this service can be accessed for free or for a very small sum. Legal aid, she said, is available in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Seven and Ten and satellite services when needed in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.
The minister stressed that concrete measures have been taken to tackle domestic violence.

She said that there are cases were women were urged not to leave relationship on the advice of religious leaders and therefore more than 800 religious leaders from six regions were trained in relation to the issue of domestic violence and how they could be part of the solution. “These are concrete measures taken, yet we see women being beaten,” she noted.

She said women are not responsible for the violence that is meted out to them. “While we have all these services and while we have trained the police force and our religious leaders, social workers, we still need women to take responsibility for their own lives and to accept these pieces of legislation and to accept these services when you find yourselves in a situation where you are being beaten; where your dignity is being taken away from you simply because you are a woman,” she said.

Manickchand appealed to women to access the many avenues where help can be sought, “so that you and your children can live a violence free life. No one else can do that for you.”

She urged all citizens during this elections period not to engage in any activities that can put women in harm’s way. She explained that whenever there is a protest or a riot, it is the women who suffer the most.
“We must commit today to ensuring that we are all standing together as one, denouncing violence against women in any form or fashion,” she stressed.

White zones
A positive Manickchand said that during the (government’s) next tern in office there would be the establishment of white zones across the country. She explained that a white zone is a place where help can be sought.

She said that before one is established, officials will go house to house in a community and educate residents about violence, its harmful nature and where you can get help. Later, she said, men will be approached with information as to how conflict can be solved without violence and the services that are available to them.

“We are not going around building buildings, it has to be where a place exists. We train the people there, how to address a women who comes in and complains about violence, how to accompany her to the police station, what are the things that can be done for her,” Manickchand said adding that it is following this process that a white zone will be established.

She said that two have already been set up and have been successful so far.  She said these zones can only be established in places where a stringent security spirit exists since it is “the community [that] has to run it and sustain it. I look forward to launching, like crazy, white zones across this country in the next five years so that we can better address and deal with domestic violence.”

She assured that the WOW and Single Parents’ Assistance programmes will be expanded and legislation that addresses women’s affairs will be reviewed.

In a short address Rev Patrick Findlay, Men Affairs director said, beating “our wives and girlfriends never make things better for either of the two parties involved.”  He said that from all appearances men are stuck in their ways because of their socialization. He said for the year, the organisation has spoken to over 12,000 young people in different parts of the country about gender based violence.

Rev Findlay said that youths need to be taught how to deal with conflict and anger. He opined that young leadership can end the violence against women and girls. He urged men not to hit women as they are loveable and delicate creatures.

Meanwhile Yvonne Stephenson, information resource manager, Ministry of Human Services said that in 2010, 35 women were murdered. She later listed a number of women who had been killed by their partners up to October this year, among them, nursery school teacher Natalie Loncke and Tessa Romacindo.  She stressed that too many women suffer at the hands of their partners before all stakeholders to come on board to help fight this growing issue.

Later Babsie Giddings representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that women and girls are subjected to domestic violence on a daily basis.

She said her organisation is committed to actively engaging men and boys to bring an end to domestic violence. She stressed that this is an issue that “involves all of us”.

 

 

 

 

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/news/guyana/11/26/manickchand-urges-women-to-protect-themselves-from-violence/