Amid plans to roll out new daycare and elderly care facilities across communities, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally has said women will no longer be held back by caregiving responsibilities.
Speaking at the launch of the National Gender Equality Seal on Wednesday, Minister Ally said President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s recently announced care economy initiative aims to empower women, who are often the caregivers of homes.
“We’re going to look at initiatives whereby we provide day care facilities in communities, facilities so that elderly parents can be looked after.
“Most times it’s the women in society who take care of kids and elderly parents. We’re putting systems in place so women can go to work and be at peace… it’s not going to be the reason they have to stay home anymore, it’s going to be the reason they excel,” Minister Ally said.
Minister Ally’s comments come as President Ali announced Region Six as the prototype for a modern care economy, with a package of household and community-level investments aimed at strengthening families, empowering vulnerable groups and creating new economic opportunities.
The care economy plan includes centres dedicated to men and women’s empowerment, mental health support, and services for persons living with disabilities.
The President also outlined opportunities for at least 30 persons with disabilities to be placed in customer service roles through partnerships with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and telecom providers.
Beyond social support, the initiative is expected to generate thousands of jobs and small business opportunities in childcare, elderly care and related services.
Ally stressed that the government is committed to ensuring supportive, comfortable working environments, especially for women who he said are playing massive roles in the booming economy.
“As a government we are committed to ensuring that within the public sector that those measures are in place, our women are driving our economy they are working in the oil and gas sector, they are on the FPSOs. We will continue to put more systems in place to ensure women are comfortable in the working environment,” the Minister said.
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