Poverty is increasing among women

Kaieteur News – May 2, 2008

Minister within the Education Ministry, Dr Desrey Fox said that the feminisation of poverty is fast becoming popular and is resultant from various issues affecting women.

Dr Fox was speaking at the launch of the National Single Parent Register and commented on the fact that the majority of single parents are of the female gender.

“It is common knowledge that of all the single parents we have, few are men. The feminization of poverty is on the rise even in the United States and it extends to Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean,” Dr Fox said.

The Education Minister noted that from daily interfacing with parents, it is conclusive that women are solely responsible for the family’s welfare. “I have never seen a father who has come to me to discuss the education of a child,” Dr Fox remarked.  

Repeat pregnancy in HIV+ women worrying – UG students

Kaieteur News – May 2, 2008

A group of University of Guyana students has expressed concern over the trend of HIV-infected women having repeat pregnancies.

Under the guidance of Lecturer Monica Miller, six social workers, all of them students, conducted a seminar at the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus to address the issue.

The interactive session was held in the Cheddi Bharrat Jagan (CBJ) Lecture Hall and attracted an audience of mainly women of child-bearing age.

The students, Marlon Agrippa, Shaundell Shipley, Romel Richmond, Melissa Phillips, Charmine Walters and Natasha Dundas, made several recommendations to tackle the problem.

Shaundell Shipley, who works in the healthcare sector, pointed out that with support from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), women with HIV feel encouraged to lead normal lives. Shipley said she met with several mothers at a treatment site and discovered that they do not give thought to repeat pregnancies.  

TUC pillories gov’t on college funds

Stabroek News – May 2, 2008
By Johann Earle

With the labour movement still deeply divided, speakers at this year’s GTUC May Day rally pilloried the government over the cost of living and the cutting of the state subvention to the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) among other areas and PM Sam Hinds was given a rough reception.

Following yesterday’s morning’s traditional march, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) affiliates rallied at the CLC on Woolford Avenue while affiliates of the rival FITUG gathered at the National Park. The GTUC rally was marred by the rude treatment of Prime Minister Hinds shortly after he arrived at CLC. Hinds had been invited to the event by the leadership of the GTUC.

Speaking at the rally held in the CLC compound, Coretta McDonald of the GTUC said the members were angry at the state of the country and on the approach to these problems by the leadership of the Guyana Trades Union Congress.

She noted that the labour movement preceded the political movement of the country and that it was labour that first challenged the merchant class and the colonial masters.