Dear Editor,
The Arya Samaj Movement of Guyana hereby condemns, in the strongest possible way, the vile attacks on our women. Social media has shown the various “rites” performed on effigies of the Chairperson of GECOM, and there have been vile attacks on female members of the judiciary, among others.
The Founder of the Arya Samaj Movement, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, envisioned an open social system with education, and not birth, as the determinant of status. He advocated equal rights to men and women in all respects. He cited Lord Manu in support of his view: “Where the women are honoured, there God is pleased, but where dishonoured, there all religious rites become useless. On the happiness or misery of women depends the happiness or misery of the whole family”.
It is in shock and disappointment that we have observed persons publicly denigrating and threatening women in public office for the simple reason that these great women are doing their jobs, upholding the oaths of their offices fearlessly; being fair, honest and transparent.
We condemn the attacks on Justice Claudette Singh, Chairman of GECOM. We condemn the attacks on Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire, Chief Justice of Guyana.
We condemn the attacks on Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. We condemn the attacks on Attorney-at-Law Kim Kyte-Thomas. We condemn the attacks on Senior Counsel Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and immediate past Chairman of CARICOM.
We also condemn the attacks on the Ambassador of the United States of America to Guyana, Her Excellency Sarah-Ann Lynch; and the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Her Excellency Lilian Chatterjee.
We condemn these actions just as we condemned the vile attacks on past women leaders.
We condemn attacks on all our women, and demand that they be respected. The contributions of our women are not less than those of the menfolk, and can even be considered greater than the contributions of some men.
Let us remember: “On the happiness or misery of women depends the happiness or misery of the whole family”, and by extension, the happiness or misery of our country!
Sincerely,
Dr Mahadeo, Dr Kumar
and Bhn K Dayaram, MS
