Advancing women’s development

Our single-parent mothers have, over the years, found it very difficult to make ends meet. In some cases, they lack the necessary skills and qualifications required to get suitable jobs to earn enough to provide for themselves and their families. Up to a few years ago, it was very difficult for single-parent women to access loans from commercial banks to do business; since, in applying for loans, there were several strict criteria they had to satisfy, such as having collateral and a secure job, in order to be qualified to benefit from that facility.

However, this administration has recognized the challenges that single parents face, and has partnered with various organisations to provide opportunities for this group to lift themselves out of poverty and earn, so that they can meet their expenses. For example, in June 2010, the government collaborated with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) to introduce the Women of Worth (WoW) project. This scheme was made possible through an agreement signed between the government, through the Ministry of Finance, and GBTI. The scheme targets women, particularly those from single-parent families. GBTI has given its commitment to the success of this venture, and has allocated Gy$500M to assist women with the necessary financing for their businesses.

Under this programme, single-parent women could have access to as much as Gy$250,000. to start up a business or expand an already established business. It should be noted that all sums borrowed would attract an interest rate of six per cent per annum. For sums over Gy$200,000., there is a six-month moratorium of repayments, and sums under Gy$200,000. have a three-month moratorium on repayment. The maximum period for repayment is 24 months, and no collateral is required for accessing this facility.

No doubt, these loans have been (and continue to be) of tremendous help to single mothers, so that they can improve their financial situations. In addition, these loans provide good opportunities for single mothers to learn new business skills and be productive members of the society. Subject Minister Priya Manikchand had stated that the WoW project was born out of government’s desire to fight poverty, and it reflects government’s full appreciation of the benefits of increasing women’s participation in the labour force and the benefits that will flow when women are so encouraged. So far, there have been several outreaches across the country introducing the programme, and the response from women has been extremely favourable.

The WoW programme is in addition to other initiatives which have been implemented to benefit women. For example, in 2008, a national exercise was carried out in order to finalise a Single Parent Register, which the authorities are currently using to provide financial and other support to single parents. Hundreds of single parents have been registered and have since benefitted from different forms of assistance, including technical and vocational training. More than 400 single-parent women were given skills training in areas of interest to them, such as garment construction, catering, cosmetology, information technology, child care, office procedures, and care for the elderly.

Moreover, every individual who was trained has received grants from the government to purchase equipment and materials to establish businesses in the areas in which they were trained, or to expand on already established businesses or vocations.

The One Lap Top Per Family (OLTPF) project currently being implemented will see poor families, including single-parent-headed households benefitting from lap top computers. The authorities have said that training will be provided free of cost in regard to usage of the computers. In addition to equipping themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge to cope in a technology-driven world, single mothers can utilise this opportunity and explore other business options via the Internet.

Finally, it should be mentioned that this administration has created the legislative framework relative to protection of women and children, such as enacting the Sexual Offences Bill, establishing the Family Court, and expanding legal aid services across the country. These timely interventions will no doubt help to create a better life for single-parent women, so that they in turn would be in a more advantageous position to lead more productive lives.