Women and Gender Equality Commission honours outstanding Afro-Guyanese women

Fifty-two women of African descent were honoured by the Women and Gender Equality Commission on Saturday, August 27, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to society and in celebration of the International Year for People of African Descent.

“Today, as we look back, based on the struggles and sacrifices made back then, we enjoy a better quality of life as women, since they (women) were deprived (of this right) in those days,” Junior Finance Minister Jennifer Webster said in her feature address to the women at the National Cultural Centre.

Webster greeted the gathering on behalf of the president, since he was unavailable to attend the proceedings. She pointed out that President Bharrat Jagdeo recognises the contributions African-Guyanese women have made in development of Guyana.

“As we pay homage, let us do so in a humble manner, and acknowledge the valued struggles of our foreparents, who laid the foundation and who, by virtue of their hard work, dedication and achievement, contributed in all spheres of life to the development of our beloved land,” Webster said.

Commending the honourees, the minister declared they should be proud of their accomplishments.

“Every woman today, under the current government, is entitled to equal access to opportunities provided, whether it is academic, vocational, professional, training for employment, etc.

“Today, we as women should all be proud of our record and our achievements, since many of us have been the beneficiaries of a quality education which has enabled many of us to contribute in a meaningful manner to national development,” Webster said.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indranie Chandrapaul, pointed out that the initiative to honour the 52 women was a part of the commission’s planned events. The decision was to “honour a small sample of women who have contributed to their own development, as well as the development of Guyana, through their various endeavours and commitments”. The response was overwhelming, according to Chandrapaul.

The 52 women honoured on Saturday ranged from grassroots women like Mary Jones, a St Lucian by birth, who grew up in Guyana and worked with the Ministry of National Development and the Upper Mazaruni Road Project. Jones has been involved in numerous volunteer works, including her appointment as treasurer with Food for the Poor (Bartica). Jones believes that an educated person has everlasting wealth, and she is very vocal on parental support in a child’s life and education.

The youngest honouree was sports personality Alika Morgan. The 19- year-old track and field star was honoured for her domination at several race meets across the Caribbean and internationally.

The oldest honouree was Daphnie Rogers. At 84 years old, this cultural icon is a graduate in arts and craft from the University of Calgary. She participated in Carifesta 1972, and was administrator of the National Cultural Centre.

She has been described as Guyana’s best cultural ambassador.

Then there were the politicians, like Cheryl Sampson, who is with the PNCR. A trained teacher by profession, Sampson had a long and successful career in that field, was appointed project officer with SIMAP, and is currently head of the Georgetown In-Service Centre of the Cyril Potter College of Education. She also serves as the deputy chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission.

There were women of the cloth, businesswomen, and women who dedicated their time educating the nation, such as Donna Chapman.

Chapman taught English at the East Ruimveldt Secondary School, and read for her master’s degree in education at the University of Manchester, in the United Kingdom, under a scholarship in which she majored in curriculum studies. Her dream is to see all of the nation’s children have a repertoire of basic skills.

The United Nations declared 2011 the Year for People of African Descent.