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.  

Mothers’ Union to stage celebrity cricket match

Stabroek News – April 30, 2008

A celebrity cricket tournament involving a former Test player, four former first-class players and an ex-Guyana under-19 batsman will be the feature attraction on May 5 when the Diocese of Guyana Mothers’ Union holds its Family Fun Day at the YMCA ground in Thomas Lands.

The six-over per-side competition will involve six teams, each led by a ‘Celebrity’ player and all proceeds from this Charity match and the Fair is in aid of the Work of the Mothers’ Union (MU) in Guyana.

The Mothers’ Union (MU) is an organization with 3.6 million members worldwide, all dedicated to promoting stable family life, empowering people through community projects, fellowship, policy and prayer.

The action starts at 10:00hrs and former West Indies off-spinner Clyde Butts, Mark Harper, Neil Barry, Roderick Lovell, Shawn Holder and Rayon Griffith (who replaces former Test pacer Reon King who is unavailable due to his GCC commitments to the WIPA 20/20 tournament in Trinidad), will hope to roll back the years with outstanding performances for their respective teams in the soft-ball competition.   

Police Wives’ Association gets new office

Kaieteur News – April 24, 2008

After more than 50 years of existence, the Police Wives’ Association has its own office. The office, which is located in the Police Officers’ Mess compound, was officially declared open by Deputy Commissioner Edward Wills and will serve to improve the work of the organization.

As the name suggests, the Police Wives’ Association is made up of the spouses of police officers and is usually headed by the wife of the serving Commissioner of Police.

It operates the Juliet Griffith Day Care Centre at Eve Leary and conducts many social activities aimed at empowering women both within and outside of the Guyana Police Force.

The Police Wives’ Association was formed in 1953 and was the brainchild of Mrs. Juliet Griffith, the wife of a former Senior Superintendent of Police.  

Protesters attempt to disrupt Carifesta launch

Stabroek News – April 24, 2008

As the protests against the issue of the Channel 6 suspension from the airwaves continued, protesters attempted to disrupt last evening’s launch of the tenth Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) even while President Bharrat Jagdeo expressed hope that the regional festival would bring unity.

Just before the official start of the proceeding, a small group of mainly women raised their voices shouting “No Carifesta” and “We want Sharma” among other slogans. Ringing a bell and blowing whistles the women shouted their slogans for a few minutes before the police attempted to restore order. Some persons in the crowd also attempted to calm them down.

During this time, a Stabroek News reporter was accused by some of the protesters of being from the state-owned NCN TV and Channel 65 and they apparently believed this was so and when the reporter took out a few photographs they shouted that they did not want NCN or Channel 65 there because “they does tell lies”.  

Cane Grove women in empowerment programme

Guyana Chronicle – April 14, 2008

SOME of the women of the Cane Grove community have formed a group aimed at advocating their empowerment.

To this end, they met in a workshop last Thursday at the Irene Madray Recreational, Arts and Resources Centre in Cane Grove, Mahaica.

The women’s group, comprising mainly housewives and single parents, discussed various issues relating to women empowerment and equality.

Founder of the centre, Dianne Madray, who facilitated the workshop, explained that after listening to the mothers of some of the children who use the centre, she recognised the need for such a group in the community.

Madray explained that one of main aims of the group is to bring together women to share ideas, experiences and concerns, and to help them empower each other.