President Ali hails women as trailblazers in Guyana’s development

…says women creating massive opportunities in leadership

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday praised the growing role of women in Guyana’s development, describing women as trailblazers who are creating “massive opportunities” across leadership, business, technology, agriculture and other key sectors. The President made the remarks during a live interview with five women journalists and students while responding to questions about women’s empowerment and the direction of national development over the next five years. He said the progress of women in Guyana is evident, noting that more than 70 per cent of university graduates in the country are women. “Women in this country are taking and creating massive opportunities in leadership, in business, in technology, in sports,” President Ali said, adding that sustained Government investment has played a critical role in expanding access to education, employment and entrepreneurship for women. “When you have more than 70 per cent of our graduates from university being women, it tells you the story,” he said.

He highlighted the impact of programmes such as the Pathway and part-time employment initiatives, explaining that many participants are women who previously lacked opportunities to earn an income. These programmes, he said, have helped women become financially independent, more confident and better skilled. The President also pointed to policy measures aimed at supporting women in agriculture, noting that 35 per cent of new farms are now owned by women.
According to President Ali, women are also leading in home ownership, with more women accessing housing loans and receiving house lots than men. He described women as being more responsible in managing family and societal obligations, stating that they currently carry a greater share of the burden of development.
“Today, more women are taking housing loans than men. More women are being allocated house loss than men. And I would say that women are being far more responsible than men in our society today. And that they are bearing far more of the burden of development, the burden of family than men in our society today. And I will go as far as to say that our men are lagging behind and we are disappointing the women of our country,” the Guyanese leader expressed.
Against this backdrop, he urged men to learn from the drive, discipline and determination demonstrated by women, stressing the need for deliberate action to re-engage and empower men, with women’s leadership playing a key role in that effort. “Women love confident men, strong men who are living positive life. And I think that we need to take a leaf out of the women’s books in Guyana and convert their drive, their passion, their enthusiasm in our own lives so that we can reignite that flame that is definitely missing in our society. And on the contrary to your question, we have to take deliberate steps. We have to take deliberate steps to win back the men in our society,” he urged. Meanwhile, responding to a question on balancing leadership and family life, the President offered a personal reflection, admitting that he has struggled to allocate enough time to his family.
“I must admit, first of all, because I believe that you have to admit your weakness, that I have not done a good enough job when it comes to managing time at the family level, because my son reminded me of that. And one of the stark reminders was he saw me one Sunday going out in the fields. And he said to me, ‘Daddy, I never want to be a President’. And I said to him, ‘Why? Why would you say that?’ And he said to me, ‘You always have time for the people and are out with the people, and you don’t spend enough time with me’. So, I can be a leader and tell you it’s all rosy, but I have to tell you the truth. So, whilst I have been able to give as much time as possible to the people, I believe I have not done a good enough job at managing the holistic allocation of time,” the Head of State admitted.