Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand
Feminition, the women’s exposition, sought to recognise, highlight and promote the skills and capabilities of Guyanese women, Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand said during the opening of the event on Friday last. The event was held at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
“The beauty, the creativity, the capacity, the capability of our women (are) oftentimes lost, hidden, stifled, underdeveloped, unutilised, underutilized because of the apathy and sometimes downright refusal to recognise women as capable in every sphere of life,” she said.
Feminition, Minister Manickchand said, was conceived during 2009. “Women across the country told us they wanted the expo, they wanted their own platform. They felt intimidated by the large organisations and forums,” Manickchand said.
She continued that the government felt an exposition exclusively for women producers was a fantastic investment, and directed Gy$15 million towards the realisation of the project. Government, she said, recognised that, even in an unequal world, given the right venue, women can reach great heights in all areas. She applauded several of the great women in Guyana, and made notable mention of the fact that Guyana has had a female President in Mrs Janet Jagan and a female Chief Justice and Chancellor in Justice Desiree Bernard – the first female Chief Justice and Chancellor in the Caribbean.
“We have seen an increasing number of women assuming leadership roles in both the private and public sectors. We have seen more women speaking out about domestic violence, and more women exiting violent relationships. We have seen more women developing skills and taking up their places of choice in the homes and the work places.”
Dancers in action during the cultural presentation at 'Feminition'
Minister Manickchand noted that Feminition continues in the line of numerous initiatives by the government in taking proactive measures to improve the lives and the livelihoods of women in the country.
She listed some of the other initiatives conducted, such as the awareness campaign about violence against women, the provision of universal access to primary education, the construction of the family court, the re- establishment of constitutionally prescribed gender and equality laws, the training for single-parent women, the microcredit for single-parent women, and the provision of property through the Ministry of Housing to women.
Under the Legal Aid initiative, thousands of cases have been seen coming from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, 10, and mostly women have accessed this service. She said the microcredit scheme has assisted hundreds of single-parents to develop a skill of their choice. A total of 920 single-parent women have received in excess of Gy$167 million under this programme in less than one year. Feminition and the other government initiatives represent the tangible difference government is making in the lives of Guyanese women.
She continued that the government felt an exposition exclusively for women producers was a fantastic investment, and directed Gy$15 million towards the realisation of the project. Government, she said, recognised that, even in an unequal world, given the right venue, women can reach great heights in all areas. She applauded several of the great women in Guyana, and made notable mention of the fact that Guyana has had a female President in Mrs Janet Jagan and a female Chief Justice and Chancellor in Justice Desiree Bernard – the first female Chief Justice and Chancellor in the Caribbean.
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