guyanatimesgy.com
thursDAY, march 8, 2018
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D Field residents being neglected Let’s celebrate our womenfolk Dear Editor, I am a native citizen of Guyana. I took the option to seek a happy and comfortable abode in my country. I am part of the electorate. I pay all relevant taxes and abide by the laws of Guyana to the best of my ability. My country allows me the privilege of making contributions to its development in many ways. One of those civic ways is identifying areas that can benefit from social, security, environmental and infrastructural improvement. A few months ago, I identified some problems in the South Turkeyen area. Almost immediately, to the credit of the Guyana Police Force, one of the issues relating to traffic chaos at the junction of upper Dennis Street, D Field South Turkeyen and UG access road was addressed. Since then, traffic ranks have maintained an active presence and the previously prevalent traffic lawlessness there has been almost eliminated. However, the issues of absent road lighting from that junction going South along D Field access road, untrimmed road parapets, and now emerging potholes continues
to be a haunt. Apparently, when street lighting was installed in the Pattensen/ South Turkeyen Area there was inequitable distribution. My conclusion is drawn from observations that some sections of the community have concentration of street lighting that can only be compared to a floodlit arena while other sections remain in the dark. Compounding that malady is the general attitude that no one seems to be accountable nor interested in the state of affairs there. This is reminiscent of unchecked contractual works under the past Administration, much to the disadvantage and disgust of citizens. I wrote the Public Infrastructure Ministry but there has been no forthcoming response nor action from that end. I also spoke to two City Councillors on separate occasions, one of whom promised to raise the matter at Council meeting. I do not know if the matter was ever raised, but there has been no remedial action over the past three months to suggest that City Hall is in the loop. Recently, a young cyclist was struck by a car on the D Field road after he
swerved from a new pothole. Fortunately, he sustained no injuries and apologised to the petrified car driver while frantically gathering himself from the fall. He lamented that his swerving was a belated reflex action, consequent to darkness of the road which severely limited his range of vision. There are several other experiences along that stretch of roadway, including some criminal activity. Reptiles have also joined in the action. One night I cited a huge caiman slowing gliding across that D Field road, from one parallel canal to the next. The reflection of the moonlight in its eyes alerted me to its movement. Only God knows what would have happened if a pedestrian had intersected its path at that time. When, as a citizen of this country, you see and address certain things yet nothing is done to correct them, it only creates apathy, disenchantment, and a sense of betrayal. I trust that the authorities will remember that that section of the city is still a part of their responsibility to serve. Regards, Orette Cutting
The real reasons for the President’s unilateral appointment are clearer now Dear Editor, I now understand why President David Granger deemed myself and 17 other qualified citizens as not “fit and proper” to sit in the GECOM Chair. Justice James Patterson (rtd), Granger’s unilateral pick for the office, revealed himself in a letter to the press (Kaieteur News, March 6, 2018) to be a person of low character, lacking in good manners, and devoid of all decorum and professional courtesies. It would be unbecoming of me or any decent person to repeat the words used by Patterson in what was a public assault on Auditor General Deodat Sharma’s person and professionalism. His pompous verbosity is revelatory and completely missed the intended mark of humiliating AG Sharma. Rather, Patterson humiliat-
ed himself. If Patterson were a private citizen, his noxious verbiage would be a matter for his friends and family to deal with. However, Granger has foisted him onto the Guyanese public as the most “fit and proper” person to hold the all-important position of the GECOM Chair. AG Sharma, in his contact with Patterson as a professional, probably assumed that Patterson would act with professionalism and that, as a senior member of the legal fraternity, would be most concerned about any financial improprieties uncovered by the State audit into GECOM’s accounts. He also probably assumed that Patterson would move to have such matters fully investigated in order to ensure the probity of the GECOM office. As all Guyana has dis-
covered through Patterson’s own words, AG Sharma’s assumptions were wrong. That Granger chose to place a man who has exposed himself as pompous, boorish, and unprofessional to oversee a vital national institution is revelatory in itself. As old people say, “Mouth open, story jump out” and if Patterson is Granger’s idea of what makes for a “fit and proper” person, then I am very happy to concede that I never did fit that bill. Sincerely, Ryhaan Shah
Dear Editor, Do we still need to devote an entire day to women? Haven’t we already achieved enough? Women don’t just vote – we are heads of government; we don’t just participate in the workforce – we are titans of industry. We are leading political movements and “having it all”. Globally, we’ve never had so many opportunities available to us. And yet, gender equality is still elusive. Despite all our strides as a global community, we are still woefully lagging behind on equal pay, equal representation in decision-making seats, and equal responsibility in the home. Women suffer disproportionately from intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, and discriminatory labour practices. The majority of victims of human trafficking are women and girls. Women and girls make up 60 per cent of the global chronically hungry population. Seventy-five per cent of the world’s illiterate adults are women. And when unpaid work is counted alongside paid work, women, on average, work four more years than men during their lifetimes. At the same time, women are still more likely than men to live in poverty. International Women's Day (IWD) is an opportunity to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past and present all around the world. It is also an opportunity to look to future achievements and hold ourselves and our communities accountable to pressing for even greater progress.
Feminist foreign policy
I want to address the taboo “F” word – feminism. Too many people equate feminism with advocating for female superiority. Gender equality means just that – equality. Equality of rights, equality of access, equal pay for work of equal value. I am proud that my Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, says he is a feminist. When media questioned why he insisted that 50 per cent of his Cabinet be com-
prised of women, he replied, “Because it is 2015”. Last week, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau, unveiled Canada’s first gender conscious budget, entitled "Equality + Growth, A Strong Middle Class.” It has undergone the most thorough gender-based analysis yet to be seen in a public budget in Canada because Minister Morneau understands that gender equality is not just about fairness; it’s our best chance at a prosperous future. This is a future we envision for everyone. Last year, our Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, MarieClaude Bibeau, launched our Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). FIAP is a first for Canada, placing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls at the heart of our development efforts – in Canada as well as globally. FIAP focuses on six interlinked areas: gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, human dignity, peace and security, inclusive governance, environment and climate action, and growth that works for everyone. It is rooted in the conviction that the best way to reduce poverty and build a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous world is to empower women and girls.
#PressforProgress
The IWD theme for 2018 is #PressforProgress in honour of the growing global movement of advocacy and activism for gender equality. This isn’t just for the benefit of women. Studies have shown that the full and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of social, economic and political life, the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, and women’s economic empowerment are all critical to peace-
ful, democratic, and economically prosperous societies. This is why I commend the efforts of the Government of Guyana, local civil society organisations and other key enablers in pushing for the protection and advancement of gender equality in Guyana. I fully agree with His Excellency, President David Granger that we can, we must and we will achieve gender equality. Every time the First Lady’s Office organises a vocational workshop for young teenage mothers, Guyana takes another step towards greater equality. When Guyana launched the Sexual Offences Court, Guyanese took a landmark stance against violence against women. The Social Protection Ministry’s entrepreneurship and micro-financing schemes are a boon to women’s economic empowerment, increasing their access to and control over their own livelihood. Although it will not happen overnight, we must continue to push for better standards, better policies, greater recognition and greater respect for women. We must press forward toward greater progress. I invite you to join us on March 10 to celebrate our collective achievements. We are organising a concert featuring Canadian Guyanese artist, Faith Amour, and an exhibition of some of us here in Guyana pushing for gender equality, including Government agencies, NGOs, and international organisations. Join us on March 10, 2018 at 15:00h–18:00h to #PressforProgress in the Promenade Gardens to celebrate International Women’s Day 2018. Sincerely, Lilian Chatterjee High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana