Georgetown: A failed attempt was made by A Partnership for National Unity’s MP Carl Greenidge to cut $10M funding allocated to the newly created Office of the First Lady. The attempt to discredit the office and the functions of the First Lady of Guyana were foiled by their partners in the Alliance For Change (AFC) who supported the newly created office. AFC MPs publicly and openly expressed pride in the fact that such an office now exists in Guyana.
It was explained that duties that devolve upon the First Lady by virtue of being the spouse of the Head of State mainly relate to the promotion of women’s programmes and issues involving children among others.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill pointed out that an office was established for the coordination of these activities, and the attendant allowances provided for. However, there is no salary attached to the office of the First Lady.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, who is passionate about women’s rights was very vocal on the issue and slammed the disrespect shown by APNU for the role of women in the 21st century. She declared that the party was no friend to women.
“The time has long gone when all women are expected to do is serve you in the kitchen and in the bedroom. The APNU has undressed themselves as backward people…” she stated.
“We’ve seen across the world, people who are civilised, support the work of First Ladies,” Minister Manickchand pointed out. She spoke of the impact of the work done by US First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. The proposal to cut that this afternoon was going to chop the women’s right cause down by half, simply by just putting us back in the kitchen or in the bedroom – that’s where we belong. I am disappointed in the women of APNU and the men who put this up; it was put up by Carl Greenidge.”
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