Women urged to use home management skills to make money

Georgetown: First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, on Monday said that in the absence of academic qualifications, women can use the skills they acquire in the management of their homes to make money.

First Lady, Mrs, Sandra Granger (seated centre), Mayor of New Amsterdam, Her Worship, Winifred Heywood (seated fourth from right), Member of Parliament, Ms. Donna Mathoo (seated third from right), Member of Parliament, Mrs. Barbara Pilgrim (seated first, left), Regional Executive Officer, East – Berbice Corentyne (Region 6), Mrs. Kim Williams-Stephen (seated third from left) and Facilitator of the Self- Reliance and Success in Business Workshop, Mr. Yohann Sanjay Pooran (fourth from left), among special guests and some of the participants in the workshop

Mrs. Granger was at the time delivering remarks at the opening of her one-week Self- Reliance and Success in Business Workshop, being held at the Regional board room, New Amsterdam, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).

“I have heard too many women talk about the fact that their partners will tell them, they don’t bring anything in the house, so they have no value, but I am saying that you are managing that household, you’re a counsellor to the children and the husband, you’re a big financial executive in the place…I want to urge women, particularly our younger women, those who might not have the academic qualifications, you have skills,” Mrs. Granger told the 51 participants.

She emphasised that women contribute significantly to their homes as managers, which calls for a range of skills. Those skills, she said, could easily be used to make money, especially if they obtain a certificate as proof.

The First Lady impressed upon the participants, who were predominantly female, that the workshop will help them to develop their money-making skills. She said that once participants fulfilled the requirements of the workshop and attended dutifully, they will obtain the skills necessary to operate a business.

While reminding that everyone is excited about oil and gas, Mrs. Granger emphasized that persons working in that industry have to eat and skilled women can take advantage of this. “They require services, and what you have to do is to get yourself in there in a niche market with quality products and this is where the Small Business Bureau… and micro-finance [organisations can help you] so that you package and market whatever you produce in the best way possible,” she said.

Member of Parliament, Mrs. Barbara Pilgrim and Mayor of New Amsterdam, Her Worship, Winifred Heywood, both extended gratitude to the First Lady for holding the workshop in New Amsterdam. They both also encouraged the participants to capitalise on the opportunity to learn.

Member of Parliament, Ms. Donna Mathoo and Regional Executive Officer, East – Berbice Corentyne (Region 6), Kim Williams-Stephen also attended the workshop.