| Related Links: | Articles on women |
| Letters Menu | Archival Menu |
"The time has come for women to play a more active role, to take a more participatory part in world affairs and not least of all, in the state of affairs in our country," was the charge given to a group of women by acting Chief Magistrate, Juliet Holder-Allen, last week at the Main Street Plaza hotel.
Holder-Allen was addressing delegates from the various peace councils attached to the United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG) at a conference, which focused on the impact and sustainability of the community peace councils since the peace project was launched in August 2000.
The conference first dealt with the reports of work programmes and problems and constraints experienced by the various councils since their launching. Secondly, representatives exchanged ideas on future plans and strategies for sustainability. The holding of the conference coincided with International Women's Day and the delegates attended from peace councils in Essequibo, West Coast Demerara, West Bank Demerara, Georgetown, East Coast Demerara and Berbice.
Holder-Allen whose message was titled 'Women and peace in the communities' focused on women dreaming for peace. She said peace was freedom from or cessation of war and since there was no doubt that there was the threat of, and the actual raging of war in the outside world, women could not afford to play a passive role.
She said that the women in Guyana should not be afraid of dreaming great dreams. "The opportunities are all here for any woman to achieve her highest potential. There is help and assistance all along the way. The dark ages of women being helpless, feeling useless and without any resources are long gone."
Holder-Allen noted that the history of women was replete with instances of brave women whose dreams were advanced way beyond their time.
President of the United Nations Association of Guyana Community Peace Council, Donald Trotman (standing at podium) addressing participants at a conference held at the Main Street Plaza Hotel. Also seated at the head table is Chief Magistrate, Juliet Holder-Allen (second from left). (Aubrey Crawford photo)
Women could, she stated, exert a significant amount of influence over the actions of men and in this regard the fight for peace could begin right at the level of the family situation. "The role of the mother and wife within the family unit is indisputably a very important one."
She posited that the success of any community depended to a large extent on the good living and cooperation of the individual family units within that community. She said by extension the success of each family unit depended to a large extent on the morality and values observed by each member of the individual family. Holder-Allen noted that the importance of the women's role within the family unit could not be over-emphasised. But she charged that it would be useless for women to dream about freedom without first liberating their minds from the various prejudices and hang ups which they might be harbouring. She said that women's contribution to the concept of peace must start first with them adopting and executing in their daily lives the words of Martin Luther King Jr: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that, hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do so."
Holder-Allen stressed that it was the duty of all women to embrace a policy of love for all mankind, regardless of race, creed or political belief. "It is our duty as women to show the light to those who dwell in darkness, by this I mean that it is the duty of those women who are well educated to aid and assist those persons whose state of ignorance may be operating to their own detriment. You have a moral duty to do so."
Besides, she noted that it was imperative for women to recognise the vast reserves of courage that they could tap into sometimes in particular circumstances. "In situations of extreme trouble, in situations of distress a woman who is normally referred to as the weaker sex can assume proportions of enormous strength and courage."
Holder-Allen pointed out that the women of Guyana might be called upon to make serious decisions collectively with regard to the future of this country and with that she encouraged that the dream of peace must always be with them. It must always manifest itself in every thing that they do and say. She said the dream of peace included the ability and the desire not only to look after ourselves and our own but also to assist other persons who may need our help, hope and assistance.
The conference was chaired by Donald Trotman, president of UNAG and concluded in the afternoon after all of the various peace councils represented gave their reports. UNAG during the past four years has been promoting programmes for Guyanese adults and children on the need and advantages of settling disputes peacefully by way of organised community efforts rather than resorting to the formal judicial system, which is sometimes costly. Trotman praised all of the women across the country noting that they have contributed outstandingly over the years in the holistic development of our society.
He noted that it is universally accepted that there can be no meaningful socio-economic development without stability and peace and with that in mind UNAG has been involved in setting up community peace councils in a number of areas in Guyana since the organisation came into being in the year 2000.
He said that the programme is being supported by a grant provided out of a peace-building fund monitored by the International Humanitarian Assistance Division of the Canadian International Development Agency.