The Women’s Progressive Organization (WPO) yesterday (Saturday, May 27, 2017) celebrated its 64th anniversary since it was formed in 1953.
Accusing the current administration of witch-hunting and ethnic and gender exclusion, the WPO used the occasion to call on all women to stand firm and let their voices be heard.
“We must use the available means and methods to expose all the harassment and exclusion of our women. We condemn the harassment of women especially the recent action against Ms. Azeena Baksh Registrar of Deeds which smacks of political harassment and psychological abuse,” the body said. Baksh was recently charged with fraudulently causing or procuring valuable securities in the total sum of $4.5 million
According to the WPO, the organisation was formed because of the poor conditions women were living under and the absence of basic rights for them including the lack of education, abject poverty, poor housing and living conditions, starvation wages and all the ills that are associated with poverty and exploitation under colonial rule.
It noted that with the formation of the PPP in 1950 and the struggle for adult suffrage became a reality, and women and men were given the opportunity to participate in elections without conditions of property or position.
The winning of the 1953 national election in Guyana saw women being elevated for the first time and three women were elected to the Legislative Council as well as the position of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.
The WPO was formed a few weeks after and the main purpose was to give leadership to women for them to improve the lives of themselves, their families, and to become involved in the development of their country.
As it reflects on 64 years, it also thanked all those who have contributed in one way or the other to the growth and development of the organisation.
