Female politicians are becoming increasingly popular across the globe. Guyana certainly has its fair share of these outstanding women whose efforts in their influential capacities have not gone unnoticed. Among such women in Guyana, is Priya Devi Manickchand.
Her training as a lawyer, from all indications, has had immense influence on her role as a politician evident by the number of legal measures she has spearheaded since taking up the lawmaking mantle.
Currently, she holds the portfolio of Minister of Education and is bent on seeing an archaic Education Act being discarded in order to make way for a new and more applicable Education legislation that can effectively govern the national education system.
Noticeable among her projects as Education Minister were the measures she ensured were put in place to realize universal primary education. She has also been working tirelessly towards the attainment of universal secondary education.
Even before venturing into the education sector, Manickchand was Minister of Human Services and Social Security. It was there that she was able to make the greatest impact of her career thus far.
She was fierce in her efforts to tackle the scourge of violence against women and children. As part of her efforts, she spearheaded the formulation of a National Policy on Domestic Violence, which was presented to Parliament for passage into law. This process has seen a series of Bills relating to care, development and protection of children gaining the attention of the National Assembly.
Added to this, Manickchand, during her tenure as Human Services Minister, initiated a countrywide campaign to stamp out sexual violence which realized the revolutionary Sexual Offences Law. She was also the mastermind behind the establishment of the country’s lone Child Care and Protection Agency and expanded Legal Aid services allowing for access to justice for the vulnerable.
Among her many other achievements in this capacity was the implementation of the Women of Worth (WOW) economic initiative, a programme that provides low interest and collateral free loans to single parent women from lower income brackets who are keen on becoming involved in the business sector.
It was for her numerous outstanding achievements in the Human Services Ministry that Manickchand was especially recognized by an international University last year.
In early May 2014, the Lesley University in Boston Massachusetts, United States of America (US), invited Manickchand to accept an Honorary Doctorate Degree for her outstanding work as it relates to advocating for the rights of women and children.
Manickchand was in fact one of two Honorary Doctorate recipients when the University gradated 1,446. Also bestowed with the honour was award-winning and prolific author of children’s and young adult books, Lois Lowry of the US.
Both women were recognised for their outstanding contributions and achievements in their respective countries, an indication that their individual diligence, over the years, has not gone unnoticed.
Honorary Degrees are awarded to persons who have achieved distinction in their chosen fields and professions. Moreover, it was noted at the start of the graduation ceremony which was streamed live on the University’s website, that “Honorary Degree recipients make tangible a set of values we aspire to as an academic community. These individuals are models to us because of their intellectual engagement, professional achievement and civic commitment.”
University officials, Deborah Raizes, Chair, Board of Trustees, and Joseph B. Moore, President, recognized Manickchand as “a true visionary” who was also instrumental in establishing a relationship between Guyana and Lesley University.
Manickchand in recognizing the need for mental health professionals to address the needs of vulnerable youth, families and communities, was able to work along with the University to develop a unique programme that educates School Counsellors and Social Workers to address the needs of Guyanese through Expressive Therapies, Counselling Psychology and Mindfulness Practice.
A total of 13 Guyanese teachers and social workers who undertook the programme at Lesley University graduated last year.
Moreover, a citation read to Manickhand stated that “In recognition of your life’s work in service to your community, especially to the end of violence against women and children, and the education of all Guyanese young people, Lesley University is honoured to confer upon you the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.”
Both honorary awardees, Manickchand and Lowry, were required to deliver separate addresses to the graduates, an undertaking that Manickchand extensively laced with her gender-equality conviction. She passionately appealed to the graduates to embrace the global cause of gender equality, which can often be hampered by challenges including poverty, hunger, health care and even educational inequality.
And educational inequality, Manickchand observed, is evident in some sections of the world. She pointed out that “when a girl is not allowed an education somewhere else in the world simply because she is a girl, it will affect your lives…because we are interconnected.”
“Whatever your passion, whatever you plan to pursue, wherever you work, wherever you live, wherever you play, consciously and strategically set to use your value, your training here, to bring about gender equality,” Manickchand appealed.
She was, however, too modest to share how she felt about the award being conferred upon her. Instead, the Minister has been showcasing her gratitude by continuing her pursuit for a better Guyana by crafting measures that can help to foster equality as keen efforts are made to improve the delivery of education in Guyana.
Source: http://guyanainc.biz/columns/noble-political-agenda-earns-priya-manickchand-honorary-doctorate/