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FM
Former Member

APNU+AFC attacks against Education Minister ‘distasteful, misogynistic’ – Teixeira

https://i1.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/pjimage-1.jpg?resize=696%2C392&ssl=1Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan

Statement issued by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira

The latest video/song posted on Sherod Duncan’s Facebook “Priya is a Wild Hog,” is another act that illustrates the depths of depravity that permeate the PNC/APNU/AFC and Guyana Teachers Union circles.

The lyrics of the song are close renditions of the distasteful chants used during the PNC/APNU/AFC and Guyana Teachers Union attempted protests. Whilst many of these chants went unnoticed, “Rape! Rape! Priya trying to rape we” was undeniably among the most abrasive and abhorrent statements to be made about a Guyanese woman.

President Ali and his Cabinet are shocked by this, yet another occurrence in a stream of incidents of bullyism, sexism and misogyny on social media and in street protests. These have progressively worsened, more so since the March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

One cannot help remembering the public personal attacks by the then Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams against professional women in government service in 2016 and 2017. Remember too, the vile racist and sexist attacks and threats to the safety of the Canadian High Commissioner H.E. Chatterjee, and US Ambassador H.E. Sarah Ann Lynch, who dared to represent the positions of their principals in their capitals supporting the democratic will of the people be upheld.

One must also not forget the stream of abuse and intimidation targeting met out to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley, in 2020.

These few examples demonstrate a pattern of reprehensible behaviour that is of such decadence that it is undermines the values and laws of our society.

One must ask: How can the leaders of the Guyana Teachers Union, an organization comprised overwhelmingly by women, and, who teach girls in our schools, representing 50% of the school population, support songs and chants which surreptitiously mock the pervasive crime of rape? How can parents trust these teachers with their daughters?

One must ask: Where are the women’s and rights organizations that were so active in 2011 condemning a former Minister? Their somnambulism over the last 10 years is instructive.

One must ask, do they still exist? Or are they so compromised that it is acceptable to harass, threaten and disingenuously implicate a PPP/C woman and subject her to other criminal acts?

As Guyanese we should be outraged by these escalating incidences fermented and orchestrated by the PNC/APNU/AFC leaders and activists, and, now joined by the Guyana Teachers Union, and denounce them with no conditions.

If we fail as a people to stop this behaviour then all of our daughters, sisters, nieces, female cousins, wives, grandmothers, aunts, girlfriends, fiancés, and female friends will all be in great danger of being victims to this bullyism, sexism and misogyny, and worse yet, rape and other sexual offences.

This is the time for all to condemn this behaviour as unacceptable and to dissociate publicly from all who promote this depravity, and, threaten the safety of all women and girls in our country.

September 14, 2021

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Here they go again playing victim.  Where can I find the song?  Isn't Priya a wild hog?  Did she take away a negotiated benefit from the teachers?  About the rape reference: wasn't she the one shouting rape!rape! in Parliament like a wild hog? These PPP rascals, playing victim as they trample on workers' tights--a bunch of rotten hypocrites.

T
@cain posted:

Who was the big mouth woman that mouth off to the US ambassador?

Oiii Cain .....

You are referring to the then Chubbydent ==== Doodoodoonaldov Strumpovski == from this report ...

=======================

Trump Blasts Own Ambassador in Call With Ukrainian President

The U.S. president said he wanted to keep Kyiv honest. So why did he fire his ambassador after she called out corruption?

By , a national security and intelligence reporter at Foreign Policy, and , a diplomacy and national security reporter at Foreign Policy.

Current and former U.S. officials said that they were stunned by a memo of a July 25 phone call in which U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to his Ukrainian counterpart, blasted his former ambassador to Ukraine as “bad news” and even suggested he might take further action against her.

The memo, which is not a verbatim transcript, was released today amid a growing scandal over Trump’s and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential Democratic rival in the 2020 presidential race.

Source & rest of article == https://foreignpolicy.com/2019...ukrainian-president/

FM
Last edited by Former Member

GAWU, WPO, Women & Gender Commission condemn attack on Education Minister

Sep 16, 2021 News, Source - https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...-education-minister/

Kaieteur News – “Lewd, vile and clearly misogynic,” were the words the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) used to condemn a publicised song purportedly directed to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand

But of even greater concern, the GAWU noted in a release, is “the publicising of the derogatory song by a sitting Member of Parliament (MP). We believe that the MP, as a national leader, ought to know and certainly do better. The actions by the MP, in our view, are an embarrassment to the wider Opposition and is an insult to all Guyanese.”

According to the GAWU too, “We see the attack on the Minister as an attack on all women and the gains, which they have secured through their struggles.” Noting that the Minister, during her public life, has been a staunch advocate for women’s rights, GAWU added that the attempt to denigrate her character is most unbecoming. “The GAWU upholds the advancement of women’s rights and thus we were most perturbed by the actions being touted by some as entertainment. It goes against any sense of morality, decency and integrity, characteristics touted by the now Opposition during the 2020 elections campaign,” the release added.

The union body noted that while it recognises that in the political sphere disagreements are bound to arise, “we, at the same time, contend such disagreements should relate to issues and not personalities.” It is on this score that the GAWU expressed dismay that the Opposition Member disagreement with the Minister has descended into a completely uncalled for personal attack. “As a leader, the MP should be setting an example for all Guyanese, especially our youth. The attempt to score petty political points through crude antics and gimmicks does not bring any good for our nation and its people,” the GAWU added.

It went on to note that, “those who are responsible for the composition, recital and distribution of the derogatory song should collectively hang their heads in shame. Such actions are reprehensible by any yardstick and those responsible should offer an unequivocal apology to the Minister and all Guyanese.”

The Women Progressive Organisation (WPO) in condemning the attack too noted , “we see the depraved behaviour of some APNU members who instead of dealing with the issues, they are representing, have sunk to their usual low in attacking those in the current Government.”
The video posted on social media shared by MP Sherod Duncan, according to the WPO, is crass and clearly displays sexist and misogynistic behaviour to Minister Manickchand.

“This latest behaviour reminds of callous attacks on the late Mrs. Janet Jagan when she was sworn in as President of Guyana where foul language was used by PNC members to describe her. Last year, Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, who in her capacity as Chairperson of CARICOM was not spared either. Many APNU members lambasted and cursed her out for taking a principled position on the election fiasco in Guyana. Now, we have a sitting Minister of Education who is under attack by these very operatives. These sexists’ attacks on women have not gone unnoticed.”

The Minister, the WPO noted, has championed women’s rights issues and has initiated progressive legislations to protect the rights of women and children as well as the WOW programme to help women.

“She is working tirelessly, implementing the Government’s programme aimed at ensuring that our children are protected during this pandemic which has affected our children in Guyana and across the globe negatively”.

Also condemning the attack on the Minister was the Women and Gender Equality Commission, which in a statement pointed out that “in a democracy such as ours where we have a government and an opposition, we expect, as a 55-year-old nation, more mature and civil engagements, particularly when there is disagreement. The current attacks are crass and unbecoming.”

As it condemned all those involved in the creation and dissemination of the song and its accompanying video, the Commission noted that, “what is disappointing is the role of the women who participated in the creation of the featured song which was aimed at disparaging a female Minister.”

“We have fought for the right of women to be in decision-making. Instead of name calling, MPs should be more concerned with issues that ensure that rights of all citizens are respected and that the developmental trajectory of this country is accelerated,” the Commission added.

Even as it underscored that Guyana has an admirable record of recognising women’s rights and much work has been done to increase the stature of Guyanese women, the Commission in its statement noted, “We should encourage and support all women who are in the corridors of power seeking to craft policies and legislations to advance our society.”

The Commission is, therefore, concerned that the current atmosphere would act as a deterrent to young women aspiring to hold public office. “We call on the Parliament of Guyana to discipline the sitting MPs who engage in disparaging behaviour. We also call for the police to investigate any offence committed under the Cybercrime Act,” the Commission added.

FM

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