Dear Editor,
I do not think that the proposal being advanced by the Social Protection Ministry, through its minister responsible for labour, is possible at this juncture. The fact is that too many women need to work to supplement their families, as they are the sole bread-winners of their households.
It is the opinion of this writer that Keith Scott has moved with emotion, love and respect for our women. It is known that at times emotionality can affect our judgement, but at the same time, it can lead to new and greater discoveries.
As I see it, the Minister is moved by particularly single-parent mothers working in the nights, and he has zeroed in on particularly security personnel. But in all fairness to the gentleman, in his introduction at the Meeting held at the Ministry of Labour with Private Security Firms on August 24, 2017, he gave evidence of nurses working at nights and the effects it has on their psyche and general demeanour.
I wish to state several points in response to the Honorable Minister. During the meeting, I suggested to the minister several divergent views which some viewed as sarcastic; but nevertheless, I know we have to face the reality and the existence of the situation in Guyana. The fact remains that there are Policewomen, nurses, soldiers, pilots, drivers and restaurant workers who are single mothers. So, while the concern and love is appreciated from the minister, to this writer it does not seem practical.
Indeed, I signed the document proposed by the Ministry for two reasons: out of respect, and for the principle of the idea. I also believe that he should appeal to the hospitals in Guyana to curtail the use of nurses at nights; his example to show the detriments to women’s health was based on nurses, so it would be pertinent for the Ministry to meet with the organizers of the hospital industry.
In my speech, I made a proposal to the Minister and his cabinet: that they can insert a line item in the budget which would pay these single mothers to stay at home and to bring up very moral, educated and decent children. That would be the best way to go. Of course, the audience and the head table were very silent and paid rapt attention. The agreement will cause private security firms to become more conscious of the shifts and conditions women will work.
I am advising Government Ministers and employers of single mothers, who are thinking to limit women in this manner, to face reality and smell the odour of a brewing strong cup of coffee. In the words of an ‘old head’ in this industry: “Women are the backbone of the security industry, Police Force and the army. If they want to work, no one can tell them not to.”
Again, to be fair to Minister Scott, he did reiterate this point. In my view, all security employers of single mothers must provide proper training (inclusive of self-defence and profiling) and place them at safer locations. I wish to advise that there are many Government locations without guard huts and toilets, and fences are dilapidated and useless. These issues need to be dealt with seriously if we are to help these security guards.
In Northern (United States and Canada) and European countries, women would have fought assiduously for many decades to have the right to be a part of the Police Force and army. Therefore, if we place a restriction on single mothers and their working hours, critics will argue that this goes against the women’s liberation movements and gender discrimination activism.
I do not think that this initiative was studied enough for implementation to be forthcoming. I encourage the Government to review this decision, and address the concerns so that we understand the plans of the Government for single mothers and women in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Roshan Khan Snr.
