Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, has underscored that Guyana’s ongoing transformation must rest firmly on the pillars of moral leadership, integrity, and the active participation of women at every level of national development.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural ‘Mantle of Deborah’ Builders’ Summit on Saturday at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, Prime Minister Phillips said true leadership is not defined by power or position, but by purpose, conviction, and a commitment to service.
“The story of Deborah reminds us that leadership is born of service—she was a woman who listened before she led,” the Prime Minister said, referencing the biblical figure whose legacy of courage, faith, and wisdom inspired the movement. “This summit provides a space for reflection and realignment, allowing leaders to regain balance in a world that often demands more than it gives back.”
The launch of the Guyana chapter of Mantle of Deborah, he said, represents a meaningful step towards fostering moral renewal, inclusion, and leadership rooted in values and service.
Prime Minister Phillips reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to gender equality, pointing to the growing number of women serving in senior roles across government and public life.
He noted that women now head key ministries including Home Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Education, Local Government and Regional Development, Human Services, Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and Housing and Water. Women also hold senior leadership positions as Permanent Secretaries, Members of Parliament, CEOs, and officers in the Defence and Security Forces.
“Guyana recognises that development cannot be sustained unless women are given the space to lead, the tools to prosper, and the respect they deserve,” the Prime Minister said. “For decades, women have been the quiet yet powerful force behind our progress. Today, we are ensuring that this quiet strength is matched by visible opportunity.”
He highlighted several initiatives advancing women’s empowerment, including the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), through which over 11,000 women have been trained in entrepreneurship, leadership, and vocational skills. Many have since started small businesses and community projects.
The Prime Minister also cited the expansion of day and night care centres, the Homestead Programme for single mothers, and the Family Violence Act 2024—which strengthens protection and justice mechanisms for women facing abuse.
Reinforcing the Government’s focus on education, Phillips pointed to the tuition-free tertiary education policy at the University of Guyana and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which has granted over 39,000 scholarships—more than 40 per cent of which have gone to women.
“When we invest in the girl child, we strengthen our future,” he said. “When a girl is educated, a family thrives. When a girl feels valued, a community becomes stronger. A society cannot claim progress while half its people are held back.”
Phillips urged all citizens, institutions, and communities to take part in the wider national effort to advance women’s empowerment and promote moral renewal.
“The work of empowerment does not belong solely to Government—it belongs to every citizen,” he said. “We must raise our sons to respect women as equals and teach our daughters to value their worth. We must create a Guyana where women can live free from fear, where their voices are heard, and where their potential is realised.”
The Prime Minister praised the organisers of the Mantle of Deborah Summit for providing a platform to strengthen national dialogue on women’s leadership, ethics, and development—values he said are essential to Guyana’s continued growth.
Prime Minister Phillips was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Mignon Bowen-Phillips; Minister of Education, Sonia Parag; Minister of Labour and Manpower, Keoma Griffith; and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Vanessa Benn.
The Mantle of Deborah Builders’ Summit marks the official launch of the Guyana chapter of the international faith-based movement, dedicated to empowering women leaders and promoting moral and spiritual renewal within communities and nations.
The post Prime Minister calls for national renewal through faith, integrity and inclusion at ‘Mantle of Deborah’ Summit appeared first on News Room Guyana.
