Women have long been the quiet yet powerful force behind progress in Guyana, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said on Saturday, as he underscored the government’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership, empowerment, and moral renewal.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Mantle of Deborah Builders’ Summit at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, Phillips said the country’s continued transformation must be anchored in moral leadership, integrity, and the full participation of women in national development.
“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. He added: “For decades, women have been our teachers, nurses, farmers, and the guardians of our families. Today, we are ensuring that this quiet strength is matched by visible opportunity.”
Phillips highlighted the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), through which more than 11,000 women have been trained in entrepreneurship, leadership, and vocational skills. Many now own small businesses and lead community projects, a release said.
He also cited initiatives such as the expansion of day and night care centres, the Homestead Programme for single mothers, and the Family Violence Act 2024, which strengthened protection and justice mechanisms for women facing abuse.
Describing the launch of the Mantle of Deborah Guyana chapter as a meaningful step forward, Phillips said it fosters moral renewal, inclusion, and leadership rooted in values and service.
He said true leadership is measured not by power or position, but by purpose, conviction, and service to others. Reflecting on the biblical story of Deborah, he said her example of courage, wisdom, and service remains relevant to modern leadership.
“The story of Deborah speaks to leadership born of service—she was a woman who listened before she led, who guided her people through faith and reason,” Phillips said. “The Mantle of Deborah reminds us that leadership is a moral duty as much as it is an administrative one.”
He said such faith-based movements support Guyana’s pursuit of ethical governance, transparency, and compassion. Moral strength, he added, is essential to effective leadership and national transformation.
Phillips also reaffirmed the government’s focus on education and youth development, particularly for girls and young women. He referred to the tuition-free tertiary education policy at the University of Guyana and through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which has provided scholarships to over 39,000 Guyanese, more than 40 per cent of whom are women.
“When we invest in the girl child, we strengthen our future. When a girl is educated, a family thrives. When a girl feels valued, a community becomes stronger,” he said. “A society cannot claim progress while half of its people are held back. Gender equality is both a moral and practical necessity” the prime minister emphasised.
He urged every citizen, institution, and community to play a role in advancing women’s empowerment and moral renewal across the country.
“The work of empowerment does not belong solely to Government; it belongs to every citizen—beginning in families, schools, churches, and workplaces. We must raise our sons to respect women as equals and teach our daughters to value their worth.”
Phillips congratulated the Mantle of Deborah for hosting the Builders’ Summit in Guyana, saying it provides an opportunity to strengthen national dialogue on women’s leadership, ethics, and development.
He was accompanied by his wife, 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.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips
